When Life Hands You Lemons....

Moving WEEKEND!

2009-05-29T00:38:00.001-05:00

Hi guys!
Forgive us for not being in the best communication! Moving is FAST approaching - we're packed up and ready for movers tomorrow, Saturday moving, Saturday - Monday unpacking! We are super excited!

Here is the new address:
22734 Melham Lane
Spring, TX 77373

Our phone numbers are still the same! We will let you know when we get our landline in TX! :)
We miss all of you! Lots of stuff happening all at the same time ... but you know, it's not life or fun if it is not like that!

We miss every single one of you!
K&L

Hello World!

2009-05-20T19:20:00.002-05:00

I know it's been forever and you probably have absolutely NO idea what's going on with us! SUPER SORRY to leave you in the cold! We're so excited because so many things have been going on that we are thrilled about!!

We went to the Dr. in April - Kenny's doing great! Treatment is over in June!!
Our best friend Harper is getting married in June!
Our best friend Rhonna is moving to COLORADO - can we say trip!! :)
Kenny got a promotion!
We're moving to Texas!!
YES...again! This time for real!
We've rented a house and will be building in the next year or so...hopefully in time for the tax credit!! (NO BUILDING WHILE YOU AREN'T THERE!)
We're ready to go see my parents in July!
Seminar is coming!
Business is great!
We're great!

Kenny's now in Houston and I'm packing up for the big move! I'm hoping to find something in Houston ASAP, so if you have any thoughts or know someone please let me know! I know this is truly a huge surprise, but it fell in our laps and after all of that junk from the last move we've decided to rent prior to building!! We still want to build...but not quite yet! We're super excited about Kenny's promotion to Central Teller/Teller Supervisor! He's doing great on the treatment, still negative on his screens and thriving - he's finishing treatment on June 19th!! :)
We're doing really well, just keep praying for abundance and for favor because we've definitely had those since the promotion!!

We love you all!
K&L

The End of February!

2009-02-25T10:42:00.003-06:00

Already...wowo, sometimes it seems like I go to be on the 1st and wake up on the last week of the month! It's been a whirlwind month already!! Filled with lots of Mary Kay, Mardi Gras, and friends! In addition, Lida had a little fender bender :( but everyone is ok, and we're happy that there was not too much damage! We've been hanging out with friends more often, which has been fun but exhausting at the same time! We've also started taking SALSA DANCING! And we love it! We're both learning together and it's a lot of fun, it's a great thing for us to do as a couple! Lida's been hard at work with classes, she made a B+ in Accounting (thank God! IT was really hard!!!) and has started a leadership class, which she loves! She has also been working a lot with both work and Mary Kay! She's moving up and enjoying it!
It's an eventful weekend this weekend, we're having friends over Friday night, a wedding to go to Saturday evening, and go to Lafayette to see Jeff Dunham (one of Lida's Christmas gifts to me) on Sunday! Today is Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent so we have church activities tonight too! Lida's giving up PROCRASTINATION this year! It should be interesting to see how well things go when she doesn't procrastinate (lol!)!

We love and miss all of you!
K&L

P.S. We're praying for all of you who are having some difficulties during the economic hardships! We know that good things are coming in 2009, we're just waiting to see how wonderful they are!

Happy Groundhog Day!

2009-02-02T13:02:00.002-06:00

Well, it seems that Phil saw his shadow today, so 6 more weeks of Winter! YAY! We love this time of year, in Louisiana, however, winter is 70 in the day & 20 at night. So often we get sick and tired of the crazy weather! To those of you who are in Snow Country - know we are super jealous!

Well, it's February, and it's time to focus! My focus is working to become a Sales Director, and YES I can make that happen! I'm so incredibly excited about the opportunity to do that, I know that my positive energy can carry through the day & make it happen! The great thing is that you can always start over, even when it seems like you are at the BOTTOM of the bucket! Here I am again, ready to Design my Life and Live my Vision to the fullest!

I am still in school, not enjoying my Managerial Accounting class, I'm ready for it to be over - but next course is awesome, so looking forward to that!

Kenny is doing well, he's still sick at times but overall, we're just happy that 2009 has already given us a positive outlook!

Well, as I focus and become determined to make myself a better person, I find myself looking at someone that we all see during the day, Rachael Ray. Have you ever heard her story? It's astounding! And...the fact that she works tons of hours and still has that energy...well that kinda sounds like me! Anyway, here are some things that she said that were great quotes, and true to my thoughts:
"Nothing ever feels like pressure if you train yourself to be a hard worker. You get so much out of it. You feel honest at the end of the day." RR

"Be true to yourself, don't try to be all things to all people, why would you do that?" RR

You know what's so funny? For a long time, these easy quotes didn't phase me. Weekly, I get a "blog" from a National Sales Director that I absolutely admire, Allison LaMarr, this week spoke about 'the Bus'. She spoke about taking time to get off of the group bus to really see things for yourself. How many times do we just get on the group bus only to space out and find ourselves lost? Now, I mean this figuratively, but a lot of times, this is how we've lived our life....and I'm sure that I've lived the past 24 years on the bus! Only when you desire to step off of the bus to see that things, what people think, and how much debt you've acquired to get this way are not important. Often these people find themselves standing in a line that they never thought they would stand in because they were 'too good for that.' We see it especially during these hard times, these are the times that integrity is so important!

So what's success to you? Success to me is staying out of the box...to walk away from the bus ('cause they're falling off the cliff soon)...and working like no tomorrow to make your dreams a reality. I'm done zoning out on the bus only to find myself on the busy streets of procrastination, debt, and unhappiness.

Today, I am making a difference, today I'm getting off the bus, Today, I hope you do as well!

Love you all,
K&L

From a Humble Heart....

2009-01-27T14:27:00.002-06:00

Can you believe it? Three posts in one month! Almost unheard of for me!
Well, I have to share the news, and I have to say that I am soo greatful to God for blessing Kenny & I this way - but as of RIGHT THIS MOMENT! I can say that Kenny is completely free from Hepatitis C! Completely! His virus is negative in his body...yes he still has to go through 6 more months of treatment in order to fully get rid of the virus, but he's already cured!

Wow- what a blessing! What a great gift, and that's just the 1st month of the new year!

I am soo amazed at how many things can go right, when you get your head right! I have been working on positive thinking and working to act upon my goals that I have set for the NEW Year!

Speaking of NEW things, what an excitement as President Obama was sworn in on the 20th! I know he is already making headway on the important issues and I wish him luck! This is not meant to start political strife, but to everyone who is opposed or for Obama, the bottom line is that he is our President & we should support and pray for him either way!

As my step-Mom Mila says, 2009 is going to be a great year, full of possibilities and dreams reached! I hope you are working on your dreaming too!

Love you all,
K&L

Time Wasted....

2009-01-11T20:32:00.002-06:00

Can anyone believe that it's January 11th already?
11 days have passed since we rang in the New Year, can you believe it? What have you done in your past 11 days? Has is been according to your resolutions? Or are you already off the band wagon? As for the Mathews house, I can say that we just took down the outside Christmas lights. Something inside of me wouldn't let go of the Christmas season, I don't know if it's because I love that magical time or if I'm afraid of already missing out on this 2009 year. One thing I know for sure is that I haven't lived up to my resolutions, which just reminds me that it's essential to make sure that you have them written down! Honestly, I can't remember everything that I've decided to do! 2009 could be the year that we do reach our goals, or it could be the year that we again try in 2010 to become the BEST we could be!

Next week marks a HUGE day in our lives, it's our 2 year Anniversary! :) Can we believe that... no! As we took time to look at the past two years (that flew by) one thing is for sure, we haven't been this close in all of our 9 years together and that makes us feel great. In a world filled with sadness...the d word (we don't say it!)...and hard times...we can truly know that we are as solid as we have ever been! A lot of our friends are getting married...and stressing...and we keep thinking, our wedding day was the BEST day...without stress! Thank you to everyone who was there helping, assisting, and enjoying our BIG day! Without you, we it wouldn't have been so great! Often friends ask, so when are you having kids? Well, that's a funny question - for one we aren't so sure we even want kids....and two ... when we do decide that will be in our own time! (Although, we know that our families would be thrilled!) We have so much going on now and we're sure it isn't going to slow down in the next couple of years! Honestly, we're kinda surprised at the question because everyone knows we don't do things in the 'world's time.' Plus ...we just saw a show about how the world is ending in 2012, which wouldn't give us a lot of time!! LOL...whenever it does, we're enjoying life as we know it right now!

On a good note, Kenny is doing well with the treatments and we have an appointment set for the 26th with Dr. Galati! Pray for GREAT news! Kenny has been trying hard to feel better, sometimes he is and sometimes he isn't...one of the great things is that he is pushing through it with support! We know he'll be cured in 2009! Isn't that exciting! The other day, as I went to the January Jumpstart for Mary Kay, I listened to a Director from New Orleans who spoke about her life and how MK has blessed her. She explained that when she became a Director she was able to allow her husband to pursue his dream of owning a company. A couple years after he started (it was a dump truck company), Katrina happened...which pushed his business to the max. He was able to allow others to operate the trucks, etc. which allowed them time to spend together. About a year ago, her husband died in a tragic motorcycle accident which killed him instantly. Of course, all of the ladies at the retreat we crying, but it really struck me for a second that we never know about our lives and how long or short they are. I'm not, by any means, saying that I think ANYTHING would happen to my wonderful husband or myself, but it really makes you think. Many people ask, why MK? That doesn't pay enough .... which isn't true...it's not a stable job...which also isn't true. The real reason I want to become a Director is to be able to quit my job (which is completely crazy right now) and allow Kenny to quit his. I would love to spend more time with Kenny, traveling, enjoying life, and becoming a better wife to him. This is completely a self-less act because really I just want to be a blessing! I've always wanted to help others, which I know I will do, while spending time with my family! Kenny so believes in me and I know I can make this happen, not for me...but for my HUSBAND, the women I will bless, and the opportunities that it will create. I am so very excited, yes it will be hard...but I know it will be oh so worth it! *For those of you who have seen me try and fail, thank you...for still believing in me....yes, I've made mistakes...and yes, I've taken time off...but it's essential to keep on keeping on. Randy Pausch, author and professor of The Last Lecture, said "Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people."

I can truly say that this quote is why most people don't fulfill their dreams, goals, and desires...

What are yours?

We love you!
K&L

Happy Happy New Year

2009-01-02T10:44:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! What an exciting year this year will be! We know it! We had a spectacular Christmas, Lida's birthday was wonderful, and we had a fun New Year with friends and family! Can't wait to hear about all of your fun events throughout the season. Here are some things we enjoyed about Christmas this year:

Visiting the lights in Natchitoches
Starting a PJs on Christmas Eve tradition
Cutting down our own Christmas tree at the Tree farm
Christmas at home!
Watching the Santa Clause 1,2,&3
Making and giving Cookies to the Neighbors
Secret deliveries...food and gifts to the needy
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (a future favorite)
Small gifts in LARGE boxes
Centerpieces with Greenery
Giving to Others
Santa's Helper (a spectacular drink)
Playing Rockband on New Years!
Watching the Polar Express and other Christmas favs
Listening to Christmas music
Standing in LONG lines on Black Friday - well maybe not, but we had fun!

We had so much fun this Christmas, just wanted to share with you guys! Food, family, and fun...those are the three ingredients to a wonderful Christmas!
Looking forward to a glorious New Year filled with Peace and Prosperity!
Not much in the news department here, just working and setting goals for the New Year!

Love you all,
K&L

Merry Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T14:10:00.002-06:00

Well, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We are wishing for PEACE on EARTH! :) Hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas, as usual Santa gave us some great presents and we were blessed to be with Kenny's family this Christmas.

Christmas has a funny way of making you think...we are so incredibly lucky, aren't we? We have so much! The great thing, is we continue our giving among those less fortunate...with food delivered, presents given, donations made, and more! Lida spent Christmas Eve at Hope House giving ladies facials and taking pictures! They absolutely loved their pictures! It's amazing to see just a small 'nothing' in our eyes, makes a big difference in theirs. Lida was also on call this Christmas, but because she did her homework early, we did not have 1 call all day yesterday!

We both think it's interesting because many people stop their joy, giving, and helping right after Christmas. It's the mentality that once per year people need help, when really it's all year.

We have many many plans for the new year, new goals, new focus, re-energizing ourselves. One of our goals is Kenny's healing - we know this will happen in June! We cannot wait to go see the doctor to see the results of his viral count. Will let you know too! One of our main focuses is to take time to help others and be encouraging to others. In addition, we've decided to focus on things that are going to strengthen us in the next couple of years to make our lives amazing! Whatever you decide, make sure to list your successes for the 2008 year, your goals for the upcoming year, and the action steps. Then, at every month, take a monthly review and work again. It's so easy for us to get caught up in life and never really live at all.

Lida stumbled across this quote, which really touched her this week, fortunately she recieved the corresponding book for Christmas.
~"Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time and energy. Any time
we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us happier."
This is from Randy Pausch who wrote The Last Lecture

As Lida will be turning a QUARTER of a CENTURY next week, she's been working to focus on becoming a better person and achieving amazing things for the next couple of years!

Wishing you the best New Year! We cannot wait to see what 2009 will bring!

Love you always,
K&L

Well Merry Christmas!

2008-12-09T09:44:00.004-06:00

Wow- we missed a lot on our blog over the past couple of weeks! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! We had a fantastic Thanksgiving filled with yummy foods and family. We are especially thankful to be with family this year although it was a little bitter sweet because we were supposed to be celebrating it in Texas at our new home or in NYC at the Macy's Parade. If there is one thing that we've learned, it's that everything happens for a reason...and there is definately a reason why we aren't where we are today! Well autumn soon turned into winter...at least for the rest of the world. We're rainy and dreary here! Louisiana winters include weather ranging from 35-85 degrees depending on the day!!!
That past couple of weeks have been quite busy including working at the Very Merry Market for Junior League (we attended the preview party too), Black Friday sales, seeing friends perform in the Nutcracker, Lida's company's Christmas party (which was lots of fun!), and preparing for our own Christmas party on Saturday. Oh...not only that, but we celebrated our 9 year dating anniversary on 12/5 which was amazing!
This year it seems, that even though there is hustle and bustle everywhere we have more respect for the season. We're not sure if it's because we're older or if it is because we get to play a "Santa" to others ... but it sure makes a difference. In the past couple of weeks Lida has managed to get almost all of the shopping done (much of it on Black Friday) and our Christmas cards are ready to be mailed! This is the first year (since before we were married) that we have been prepared WAY ahead of time and it feels great.
As we wind down to 2009, we must admit that although we didn't reach all of our goals this year - we definately sailed through the year - we learned flexibility and learning to make the right decisions when they are obvious! We also realized that many times, even though you think things are supposed to be one way, they really should be the other!! We miss everyone - please know that you are all in our thoughts as we go through the holiday season as well as the New Year!
Keep us posted on your adventures!

Love you guys!
K&L

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

2008-11-16T16:38:00.002-06:00

Well, change sure is in the air! We called that early! Wow- it's been quite a number of weeks, a new President, a new hope for the future, and some great times ahead.

Well, it's the holidays already - we're in full swing! Can anyone believe it? It's already been kind of crazy, with A Very Merry Market for Jr. League this weekend (I assisted the characters for the breakfast!) -which is a big Christmas market for people to come to and our biggest fundraiser....and everything Thanksgiviny and Christmasy...

We aren't going anywhere for the holidays, but hoping to stay home and be together with family! Kenny is doing well - feeling good and bad...it depends on the day, but mostly good. We look forward to Kenny's appt in January with Dr. Galati to see what the progress is on his treatment.

We're working a lot, Mary Kaying it...working with charities...etc! What else - but be busy? :-)

Not much to update on...which could be good and bad- just enjoying the chilly weather - oh and our NEW bed that we got as a Christmas present (early!)!! It's a platform bed, and it's the most comfortable one ever!

Missing all of you, wishing you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holidays...I think it'll be gumbo as our meat this year ...which will be interesting!

Keeping you updated!
Love you guys!
K&L

2008-11-04T20:11:00.003-06:00

Well, this is an exciting day! And has been an exciting month!

Happy November - and I'm hoping its a November to Remember!

Hooray for the holidays....horray for a new turn in our American history...horray for change!

We're doing a lot of changing lately - working on our house, working on our goals and future...working, working, working!

It seems like we've had no break in October and looking forward to some calm (not really) weeks ahead! Actually, busy weeks ahead, but that's how we live and breathe!

Congratulations to Kenny's cousins - Jo Jo and CD - they had a brand new addition to their family on Monday 11/3 - Bonnie! :) She's precious! We're so excited about spending some time with her! And....a long time friend of the family Jo Wolter-Knudson has a grandbaby - Addy! Congrats to Justin and Melissa! Wow - lots of babies - also - 2 other pregnant gals on Mr. Lynn's side of the family! One thing is for sure - I'm not drinking the water at the Mathews Christmas this year! :) Congratulations to all of those families - we know you'll be wonderful parents!

November makes me always think of the season that everyone quickly forgets - Thanksgiving - it's Halloween and then BOOM...Christmas is out before we know it - it seems like only specialty stores carry items for Thanksgiving. After many years of being super selfish, we are seeing the value in the forgotten Holiday - this year, I would love to create a tradition going around the table and explaining what we are thankful for - I will list them later...it's a lot! But I think everyone should do that - I'm thankful today because we have the freedom of choice to vote - which ever way it should go - be thankful of our founding fathers and the opportunity for each one of us to live the American dream.

We are so thankful for family and friends that are in our lives - and the opportunity to wake up to good jobs and health, which is something that not all of us can say we have - I'm thankful for Kenny - he's done so well through EVERYTHING he's gone through to still be working and doing things daily that push him. I think of all the children at St. Jude - one of my loves - who go in day in and day out with chemo, radiation, and pushes themselves to smile.

I know I wasn't going to say everything - but I'm very passionate about being thankful and not taking everything for granted.

We love you all -
K&L

Week #1 - #2 of Living Life to the Fullest

2008-10-02T22:41:00.004-05:00

Well, we've been super blessed - as always!
Lida started her job & loves it - she's working with people with disabilities & the elderly - not directly but as a supervisor to employees and over the people the provider company serves. She's shocked because people actually DO leave at 4:30 every day! WHAT A CONCEPT?!?!

Kenny will be coming back to Alexandria as of tomorrow at 5 p.m. - YESSSSS...for good! He will be starting working part time at the Cap1 on Masonic Drive! He's happy for the break of the full time rush!

WE had the best time in Houston last weekend - it was just phenomenal! Kenny has been staying with Laurie & Dave, 2 great people who welcomed him in with open arms! Laurie is Kenny's Asst Branch Manager - and we are just too lucky that she's worked that out! In any case, we were able to ride their Sea Doo all over Lake Houston! As the wind hit our faces and the sites of the beautiful million dollar homes filled our views, we realized wow - there is a lot of work ahead for us (DUH) and WOW - do we want to live on a lake! It was just a breath of fresh air - literally - and it filled our spirit! We then showered and dressed to go and meet some friends for dinner and bowling - it was great! We're working on trying to live outside of the box - no ordinary and routine lives for us!!

In the meantime, we are making lots of changes at our beautiful home - new carpet went in last week & the house is a wreck but it WILL be ready for our super awesome surprise themed Halloween party on the 25th of October - please let us know if you plan to attend! - send us an email! Kenny has been working on his punch since September 20th! We are looking forward to another great party as the breakthrough to the fabulous holidays ahead.

In other news, Mary Kay is still alive and thriving for Lida - she's excited about working through October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and throughout the holidays!

Wishing you a great next couple of weeks and that you truly live outside of the box of your ordinary lives! People are so wrapped up in EVERYTHING whether it's in this nation or in their lives - it's extremely complicated and busy! We're hoping to get out of that focus!

Miss you and love you all!
Love,
K&L

2008-09-18T23:14:00.003-05:00

Lemons...

2008-09-18T23:14:00.002-05:00

As may some of you know, we have made some different arrangements in our life!

Lemons...as we call them - great lemons...sour ones...so we decided
to make some GOOD lemonade!

Lemon #1 - In April 2008, Kenny was diagnosed with a liver disease! He will be undergoing treatment until July of 2009.

Lemon #2- We purchased a wonderful house in April (see pictures above) - a couple of weeks ago we found out that the company that was supplying the building materials went bankrupt.

Lemon #3 - We were forced to reconsider and decide on a new home, we did. The next week we found out that the builders were going out of business...so we lost our deposit (yipee) and we had to try a new home.

Lemon #4 - We have still be unable to close after several attempts to contact very important people that are essential to our home buying.

Out of that we decide that our lemonade = we are staying in Alexandria for at least 2 more years.

Some people...ok a LOT of people are NOT disappointed at our choice - but we are satisfied that we are making the right choice. So here's to a new chapter in our lives...yes there have been struggles...BUT...it's all worth it.

Everything that is meant to be is worth it!

We love all of our family and friends for their love and support and making this decision easier!

Look for great things!

By the way - we feel like we've been hurricane runners!! After Gustav & Ike we're done with Hurricane season! Please pray that we don't get hit again! ugg...we're moving to a lake! lol!
No damage on our home but lots of damage around us. We didn't have power for 3 days! You never realize how much you count on cell phones, power, quiet (b/c of neighbor's generators), computers, fast food, water, and everything else until you lose it! We are very grateful for our safety!

We love you guys!

Lemonade Glass #1 - Lida's already found a job as the Assistant Director at Leading Health Care!

Lemonade Glass #2 - Kenny's viral counts are super low!!! :) (That's awesome!)

Lemonade Glass #3 - We have a wonderful and supportive family!

Lemonade Glass #4 - We've decided since we are here - we need to make the best of it so look for GOOD NEWS updates!

With much love,
K&L

2008-07-30T21:34:00.002-05:00

It's been a stinkin long time! Wow-
We are still waiting for our house - it's going to be ready by Aug 15th (hopefully!!). It's been quite wild around here!
Well, let's see - I quit my job on June 30th! WOWWEEEE...it's amazing how wonderful it is! I have not missed that crazy place at ALL!
I've been able to be with Kenny through all this crazy doctor stuff! But, we've been able to be together through this, so thank God for small favors!
I'm wildly pursuing my Mary Kay Dreams - I went to Seminar in July and it was fantabulous!! :) I had soo much fun and I cannot wait to do it again next year!

We are super ready to get into the house & cannot wait for the visitors that could come - the lesson that we've learned on the house is that it doesn't matter what you do or wish for - everything happens in it's own time and God has it under control!
We're ready!

Can ANYONE believe that we've already seen 1/2 of 2008 and will be soon be celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas? CRAZY things! As my Dad always used to tell me - don't wish to get older, when you do the time will fly by! And it has!

Congratulations to my Dad and Step Mom who've celebrated 10 years of marriage this year and my Moms and Pops (Kenny's parents) who've just celebrated 30 years! *Yes - Pops is super old!! :)* He loves me too! Kenny's grandparents will celebrate 50 years of marriage next month! As one commercial quotes: 2 things live forever - Love and Diamonds!! :) I know that we are soo blessed to be around couples who have worked through the tough and easy years of life and are still so much in love! I know that as we move into our 2nd year of marriage (in Jan) and our 9 years in a relationship (in December) we will absolutely have wonderful people to look up to!

While I was in Dallas for Seminar about 2 weeks ago one of the Top Directors told us to write our Eulogy - at a meeting yesterday someone was astounded that she would say that - I've completed this exercise before in college and it really changed my life. What would the 5 people who are most influential in your life say about you when you pass away? I really have to look deep within and answer those questions with honesty - and when I do - I know where I need to be. I challenge every one of you to do this same exercise and reflect on the first half of 2008 - and as we reach towards Jan 09 and go to the next chapter what will we have accomplished? What would we have let go beyond our reach? This is my 90 day journey towards commitment, excellence, and doing whatever it takes to make my dreams a reality and making God and my family as the reason why I do everything that I do! 5 months ago (almost 6) Kenny left for Houston and 5-6 months ago I set goals to where I wanted to be today - here I am with my goals half done. What would my eulogy be today and how can I change how people think by Christmas!?
Wow - that was deep I know, but it's been on my mind!
Please pray for Kenny and his health, everyone's marriage celebrations, and the many moves, changes, and goals that people are going towards in the few couple of months!

Enjoy the pictures!

~Lee

P.S.
I've made a commitment to continue to update the blog regularly - it's in my daytimer!! :)

2008-04-06T23:15:00.005-05:00

Well - exciting NEWS!!!!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

We found something and thank God that He gave us peace about the purchase! It's plenty big enough for our all of our needs & with ALL THE PERKS!

We absolutely love this place - can't wait to move in! It will be ready by the end of July and we should move in by the first of August!!! It's 2300 square feet & really really affordable!!

We are so delighted to have this opportunity and we would love EVERYONE TO COME VISIT! :)

We're ready for the great beginnings that await for us- I just can't wait to get over there with Kenny!!

Our new address is:

3519 Bluebird Park Lane
Humble, TX 77338!

Here's a pic of an unfinished version of our home:

We got to pick out our colors for our house - the siding is actually more like the color of the carpet!

A picture of the model house - Living Room (this is not even half of the size of the room)

The pic of the kitchen and dining room -

The Master Bedroom - notice the vaulted ceilings!!

We are so thrilled to be able to have this home!! What a blessing!

Here is something else that I did this weekend - I went to Dallas, TX to Career Conference for Mary Kay - here's some highlights....

The NEW COMPACTS FOR FREE!!!!!

Share the Dream - Our theme for Seminar!

Excited TOP Nationals on Stage!

MY SEMINAR GOAL!!!

MY GORGEOUS CTS!!!!!!

MY CADDY ESCALADE, WHICH IS A NATIONALS ONLY CAR!!

COULD YOU IMAGINE DRIVIN THIS FOR FREE??

oh...

2008-03-23T17:57:00.002-05:00

And...renovations during this process HAHA...fun fun!

Easter Already??

2008-03-23T17:40:00.002-05:00

WOW!
Is it Easter already? Wow...I know I know...we always say the same thing!

Well, I just have to say that we have had more life changes in a year and a half than we were ready for!!

Just a recap since our wedding!!
-Gatlinburg Honeymoon! Jan 07 - Buddy has hip surgery!
-Lida in training til mid-February
-Kenny starts with Capital One in March 07
-Pappy dies in April 07
-Lida works 400 hours...well not really that much but a lot!
-June vacation
-July - Kenny 23!! Welcome Bailey Beans!!
-August -Dad moves to Columbia
-September - Kenny starts school at LSUA
-October - the infamous Halloween party!
-November- THANKSGIVING! Pawpaw's Heart Surgery, Lida restarts MK!
-December - Christmas! Birthday! New Years!
-January - Gatlinburg Trip #2 - 1 Year Anniversary
-February - Kenny moves to Houston; Mr.Lynn's Bday
-March - we find out Clif is moving to NYC!!! EASTER!
-April - Steph and Derrick's wedding, Ashleigh and Jay's wedding, Granny's Bday, Ms. Donna's Bday; Lida in Dallas for Career Conference
Future Plans -
-May - Lida in DIQ to become a Director!
-June - Lida moves to Houston!!
-July - Lida in Dallas for Seminar! Kenny 24!!
whew.....that's a lot!

We're looking forward to a great year ahead! I'll keep posting...thanks for being so patient!!

love you guys!
Kenny, Lida, Buddy, and Bailey!

Gatlinburg trip!

2008-01-21T22:48:00.001-06:00

Christmas, Lida's 24th, New Year's Eve, One YEAR, Gatlinburg...and MORE!

2008-01-21T22:03:00.000-06:00

I'm not really surprised that I haven't written since December -- because life is kinda NUTTY ... but that's no excuse!
Christmas went by in a flash between getting everything ready, redoing our kitchen, purchasing and wrapping gifts for 16 of my foster children, wrapping gifts any way, getting sick on the 22nd of December through my birthday (12/30) ... woof...as Buddy would say! I would also say that we all did REALLY well for Christmas! I delivered Santa's gifts on the 24th of December to all of my foster children and I KNOW they were surprised! Between all of us, we had the BEST Christmas ever. Kenny's SANTA was a pool table, which he flipped out over! A word of advice, in the even that any of you want one of those....order it 3 years ahead of time! Kenny's was ordered before December 1st and he got it on the 29th of December!! He's played so many games on it and absolutely love love loves it! We are excited about a new year!

I turned 24, but I don't claim much happiness, sometimes seeing where you were a year ago and where you haven't gone is pretty depressing. Although, I had an AMAZING time with my family & got the BEST gift ever - a TOM TOM for my travels! If any of you guys travel a lot....get one of these TOM TOMs (or SUE SUE -- that's what we call her b/c her voice name is Susan) - they are usually correct & good at telling the directions before the turn...which sometimes you don't get from an actual person!

New Year's Eve was fun except for the part of dealing with some pretty sick friends...YUCK..I'm glad that wasn't me! Had a great time with fireworks and enjoying ourselves! Happy New Year...BE GREAT IN 08!

Our Gatlinburg trip was AMAZING as well -- Kenny, Harper and I piled into Kenny's car and Mr. Lynn and Ms. Donna piled into another until we hit Knoxville (stopped in Birmingham) when we picked up Clif and Richard and headed to Gatlinburg....details on the next post! We had a great time even though the trip back was very very long -- and by Thursday I had received 14 phone calls on my cell phone from work (not that I answered them) -- at that point I was NOT excited about returning to Pineville.

Our 1 year anniversary was spent traveling back home, seeing our beautiful babies and family, and then cleaning up. I tried a Rachel Ray recipe and we went to bed early...we were exhausted from the 5 1/2 hour drive that day! We had a couple of bites of the cake -- still lacked moisture but oh well! The next day...we went to Outback and ate our cake -- had loads of fun. Can anyone believe it has been a year already?? Whoa...

Well, the next blog will be of our trip to Gatlin...love all of you guys!
Miss you!
Kenny & Lida

Updates!

2007-12-03T01:44:00.000-06:00

Ok, so once again I have let a month slip by before I have updated! Crazy, it is not December 3rd and really and truly I have felt like a whirlwind has gone by! Can anyone believe that in about a month and 10 days Kenny and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary?!!! WOW! We have had a fantastic month...but very hectic! Right after my last post, I got 2 cases and have not stopped since. Work has not been that great, but I'm really trying to look on the bright side of everything. Kenny feels the absolute same about his work, but we're trying! I'm in full swing with Mary Kay! YAY..especially for Christmas! (Need any gifts? Let me know HAHA). We are now putting up the decor for Christmas which is the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR for me! Although it will be a small Christmas this year, we still have a LOT to be thankful for! Thank God for our blessings! I know that 2008 will bring even MORE joy to our lives than 2007 has! The pictures this time are from the LSU ... Louisiana Tech game on November 10th - of course La Tech CREAMED LSU (NOT NOT NOT! -- I don't want to be hurt!) Not really, the Techsters lost by 48 points! CRAZY..final score- 58-10! Tiger Country is in full swing here...everyone is in purple and gold and honestly I wasn't sure that I wouldn't be tackled in my Blue and Red! We got to see some friends at the game, which made us both homesick for Tech! But....new chapters will start soon! Right now we're also tiling the floor which has not been fun! Kenny and I are off today (Dec 3) and tomorrow as a mini vacation before December eats our time! We are looking forward to the holidays! Thanksgiving was AMAZING with too much good food, laughter, friends and family, and of course the day after waiting in a line for 1 hour 1/2!! Wow...Never can deter those shoppers! Honestly, this year I'm not interested in receiving at all, but giving! I am so much happier to do that! I know that makes it hard to shop for me but just don't HAHA! :) Love you all - we are soo thankful! Have a wonderful holiday season and remember that family and friends are the GOLD in our lives!

So I know I can't update this once a MONTH!!!

2007-11-04T22:54:00.000-06:00

So is it already NOVEMBER? Whew...where did that time go? I cannot believe the amount of things that have happened since the last post! Wow!
Well, let's see...October was one of the most challenging months in our lives! We held down jobs, school, working on the house, different functions, and HALLOWEEN, and a partay!
If we weren't exhausted before, we definitely are now! The kitchen is going great and we took a weekend off this weekend in order to relax a little bit! Here are some new pics! The beautiful flowers are the ones that my sweetie bought for me with the new table he put together!! :) Anyway, the previous picture is the one without the wainscot and the second one is the with the wainscot! We still have a lot to do but at least it looks really really nice!

We are looking forward to the completion of the project, but I also know that it looks really nice now too! :)

Anyway, Kenny is doing really well in school and but especially CHEMISTRY! He loves it! He just started his advanced scuba and he makes dives over the weekend...eventually I want to learn how to dive but for now I'll stick to my million and one things!

Speaking of which, I restarted my Mary Kay business! I 'm so very excited! I am reminded of my previous attempt to make my business work and I know I have to do a lot more and better things in order to succeed, I'm ready to be the "worker bee!" I need to leave my job!

HAPPY FALL DAYS! We are excited about fall & the weather that goes a long with the fall! YAY! Here are some pics from Halloween - we had the best time with some friends over Halloween! We completely enclosed the carport with vis queen(?) and we spray painted with florescent paint -- then we put up black lights and some scary things outside (complete with a fog machine!!) -- we had a super time with THRILLER dancing...learning how to do other dance moves and lots of punch! :)

Clif, you'll be so proud...I was ELPHABA! And if I wouldn't have lost my voice I would have sang the songs too! :) Harper won with the most ORIGINAL costume...she was a WHOOPIE cushion! It's sooo funny! The rest of the pics are the decorations and ..... of course Kenny sleeping at the end of the show! :) We had loads of fun!
:)

Join us next year, if you missed it!

Anyway, HAPPY FALL and I will update again soon!

Is it already the end of September??

2007-09-20T00:13:00.000-05:00

I swear, the whole month I have been saying, I need to update the blog!!! Anyway! Sorry so long since we posted a blog! We have been super busy! Lets see....here's the list: ~Kenny and I work 40 hours/week - plus I usually put in about 10-15 hours of overtime/week ~Kenny is taking 6 hours of school on top of that! ~I am working all weekend! ~We are trying to remodel our kitchen and add another room ~I am helping some Mary Kay directors prior to my re-launch in November and the list goes on!!!! Wow, it's amazing, I know I will look back to this time and ask myself....how did I do it? Anyway, September is here & flying by! We had an AMAZING vacation in CT!! We want to go back so badly! I'll post some picture soon! The day after we came back I took bridal shots for my very first time and I will post those too! In addition, we've been working working working! It's finally getting a little cooler & I don't know why but I am TOTALLY excited about the holidays coming up! I am ready for all of them! Tomorrows is Kenny's Meme's Birthday & the next day is my mom's birthday...then next month - Kenny's favorite holiday...then THANKSGIVING (wow, we have so much to be thankful for) - and then MY FAVORITEST holiday in the entire world : Christmas! YAY! Then off to Gatlinburg, TN for a Cmas vacation with the family! We're psyched! I'll post some pictures of the kitchen remodeling and we are starting the procedure of building a sun room! Lots of friends are having babies & doing really well- we are having a great time being married! Life is great! Miss everyone! Please call us if you come into town or want us to see you...we love to travel (if we have time!!!!) Love you all! Kenny and Lida

P.S.
This is what your car would look like when a HUGE branch randomly falls on it in the middle of the driveway!
YEP, that's Kenny's beauty and it's going into the shop in October!!!

More wedding pictures....

2007-08-26T19:47:00.001-05:00

More amazing pictures......

HOT...HOT....HOT..

2007-08-26T19:18:00.000-05:00

Can the weather be ANY hotter? Every day during lunch I go to my car & and it says 107!!!! Oh my goodness..that is awful! Can we be in Antarctica please? Anyway, enough weather complaining...it's been a super busy week!
We've been out most of the nights this week plus Jay and Ashleigh came to visit...this weekend YAY! We always have lots of fun with them! On top of that we attended Paul's brother's wedding Saturday which proved to be entertaining!! It was lots of fun...
Kenny has been adding to his pool skills & was invited to be on a league which is awesome! That will probably keep him pretty busy for a while! I've been running and running and working and working some more! School starts this week for Kenny & I'm soooo missing classes!! Isn't that funny? When you get done..all you want is to start again. I've still been checking out some grad school programs but I have to tackle the GRE first. In addition, I would really like to take some photography classes because I'm missing my camera & fun pictures.....I will be posting some pictures then! I've started back in my puzzle interests and I'm now into scrapbooking because I have to do that for work! I'm glad that I have some crafty skills to help with my job!
I'm really trying to work on enjoying my job and not dwelling on the negative like I & 1million of my co-workers do.....wish me luck!

In addition, we will probably be starting some renovations on the house! Since BJ helped us redecorate the kitchen...it needs some improvement. I'm working on some pictures that can be blown up and framed for our decoration because our bare walls are just pitiful!

The walls!!!!
______>>>

We are enjoying life....we've really enjoyed visiting Jay & Ashleigh, 2 weeks ago we visited them in Kingwood & they just visited us....let me share with you what it was like all weekend!!!
Jay & Kenny on the computer (below)
Buddy Lynn...bored out of his mind!!! ----->>
Kenny playing World of Warcraft (below)

Kenny, Jay, and Ashleigh are addicted to WOW or World of Warcraft..I wish I could have video taped the experience...it's pretty neat!

Anyway, hope everyone is well, can't wait to go to Connecticut this week and can't wait to have a 3 day weekend!
Yes....
Love you all!
Kenny & Lida

Too long...

2007-08-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

I love this one!

So, it's been insanely too long since I've written but time is precious around here..and I definitely don't have time to write!! Lots of new things happening..and what's really sad is that I always want it to be better than it is!! Kenny is starting school in about a week! He's going back to get some additional biology & chemistry credits! He's excited and nervous about that! Also, work is in full swing..I have 17 - yes 17 children to take care of and 14 parents! As if it couldn't get any more busy...I am bringing work home every night and I'm just glad that my WONDERFUL husband is so supportive! I'm thinking about starting a graduate degree in Spring (and no, it won't be with the Office of Community Service funding!) -- in Public Administration. I never seem to feel as though I've done enough during the day, yet I'm left exhausted!! We got an email from the Secretary this Friday saying to basically be ready for emergency deployment to New Orleans because Hurricane Dean is in full swing...as if we didn't have enough!! YAY...

I'm excited to say that Kenny & I are traveling to CT to visit Grams and Gramps for the first time in 5 or 6 years!! We are too excited! We'll be there over labor day...yes... yes...yes!! Pictures will be up soon!
I'm sorry I can't post too many pics of the wedding due to the space and time it takes..but I will post a few!

We are so excited about Fall..first everyone goes back to school...YES...but the traffic is heavier...Uggg...the weather might feel a little better & Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching..the MOST WONDERFUL time of the YEAR! I love being with family, even if they are my in-laws they are SOOO amazing...they are like blood fam to me--but really when did I ever not adopt people as "family"!!

We are going to start on some improvements to the house..including paint in the front and I will be posting some pics of our awesome house soon!

We miss all of you so very much (even if you are right next door)--we really don't get to spend a lot of time together!
It's going to get busier and busier...I hope I'll keep you updated!!

Love you!

My Dress & My girls!

2007-08-05T20:21:00.001-05:00

Bailey Lee Mathews!
Look @ that CUTE face!

How funny!!
I love my big bro!!
I love my big brother....I even sleep under his leg!!

Kenny's Suprise Party & Bailey!

2007-08-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

I threw a surprise birthday party for Kenny! :) It was a Hawaiian Luau! :)

Mr. Lynn is HOTT in his Luau man apron!

The Birthday boy with Ms. Ginger!!

Me with my AWESOME Pops in Law!

Do I really look like her?

2007-08-05T20:05:00.000-05:00

I have been told that I look a lot like Tracy from Hairspray...I've never seen the musical or the movie - I'll have to do that! :)

I'm not sure I really look like her...but I don't know!

2007-07-28T22:46:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how near and dear best friends are to our hearts...more wedding pictures to come but i want to tell you that I have the BEST best friend in the entire world! :) We have had more fun together...and have stuck by each other through everything! Our inside jokes...are too funny to us & to you...would be boring! Here's a couple of fun pics!

Rehearsal!

Right before I walked down the aisle!! Thanks Harp for your amazing talent with the pic!
Harp's bday in 2006...see the magazines?? Harpers & Lida!! :)
Look at those big BLUE eyes!!

Harper Levy! I love you bunches and bunches!

2007-07-28T22:39:00.000-05:00

More honeymoon fun!!

Look @ the pretty view!! Isn't this beautiful?!!
My beautiful & wonderful husband!

Love the waterfall...it took us 2 miles to discover it!

We had so much fun!!

Out of touch...

2007-07-27T00:51:00.000-05:00

We have been so incredibly out of touch! We wanted to give you some fun pictures and updates through the internet...so here they are! Let us know what you think!

One day after we got married in January, we journeyed to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to enjoy a week together! Here are some of the highlights of our adventures!

We had so much fun and the pictures are endless...the next post is just pics!

Kenny on our way to Alabama the first night! Married 24 hours at this point!

After a VERY long drive to Alabama!

Ruby Falls sign # 456 (we saw so many!)

FINALLY IN TENNESSEE!!!!!

A look from Lookout Mountain (we ended up going to Ruby Falls!)...the signs worked!