Spring Break Beauties Making Appearences on the AL Gulf Coast

Well they came and went. They 'rested' from their spring break week at PCB .....


They were properly fed and quite literally shopped till they dropped with Mimi :-)


They had it rough didn't they?
They got a little more play time at the beach:-)

They visited our 93 year old grandmother, Murrs :-)
Mimi and Da (our grandparents) treated us all to breakfast downtown at a sidewalk cafe, "Spot of Tea" so the girls could have a true taste of Mobile.



And we were able to take a moment to step into the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.



They didn't exactly destroy my house but they did indeed leave their mark....More on this later...Jill and Kelci, I love you both SO much! Kelci, I'm sorry you didn't have anywhere to sit because Mr. Cooper kept stealing the only seat in the house and your spot in the CAR!!! I'll have him under control next time you visit.

More to come on our trip to the beach for an incredible view of the full moon on the Gulf coast waters and what the "Spring Break Beauties" decided to leave behind...

Spring Break Beauties

TWO of these PCB Spring Break '11 Beauties are headed to my house tonight!!! (Insert Lee's Happy Dance in the kitchen! Lee doesn't get a SB anymore so she can live vicariously through them.)
While their visit is quite unexpected and on SUPER SHORT notice I am SO excited that they will be fast asleep, curled up like a bunch of squirrels in my office/guest bedroom by the time I wake up in the morning!! In preparation, I am feverishly typing away to finish a first draft prospectus for my Research and Design class....BLAH! Then I will SHOVE all the clean clothes in the closet, set out some pre-baked cookies and spray some Febreeze in the air to complete the illusion that I am indeed Betty Crocker, Martha Stewart, and future Dr. Awesome all rolled into one! Hmmm, I wonder if I could vacuum all the carpets before they get here too??? Ok, that is pushing it overboard for a bunch of teenagers.
Don't they just look BAD!? Eh... You decide! I will say that they each have hearts of gold and I am so happy to have a bit of sister time. One thing I have been reminded of this week (gosh! this whole month!) is that we aren't all perfect. We screw up. One WORD document couldn't hold all the times that I have "flubbed up". I would need a website devoted to this task, with a MASSIVE server. (My friend Titus, where are you!?) Well, DUH! Ok, so we are all idiots in some form or fashion. We know there was only one perfect soul who walked the face of this earth.

In the "How TO Live Life" manual (A.K.A. The Bible) you'll find, "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."- John 8:7

So there we go! There is our release from reacting harshly and dropping your judgment on others. God totally just let us off the hook. It is really exhausting and God would rather us expend our energy serving HIM. So maybe the next time someone in your world makes a less-than-thoughtful-choice/mistake instead of beating them to death, teach them and support them in making more informed decisions using His love and strength, which we were given as His people. Still want to 'decide' how bad they look? (I'll let you know if they trash my house worse than me on Monday)

Ok, I'll hop off the soap box by tomorrow with more fun thoughts and ideas. Until then! Party at the L.A. Gooch house!! WOOOOOHHHHHOOOOO! Jill and Kelci are coming to town :-)

Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor and Martha make Magic in the Garage!

My husband made me a headboard. I jumped, floated around and giggled like an 8 year old then promptly cleaned the rest of the house in hopes of perfectly showcasing my new shabby chic piece for no one else but myself, the man who made it and our future dog. For weeks we investigated the proper way to do this, for two days we gathered the materials and only spent $50! For broke newlyweds, this is a FABULOUS thing! I got to explore my Martha Stewart side, while he got to show me his Bob Vila/Tim "The Tool Man"Taylor side, complete with grunts, a work bench and a staple gun! I know, I know, we are terribly exciting people. Ok, I'll end the gibberish and the suspense. Here are a few photos of our piece of work!
Where all the magic happened! Trust me, it was real magic! No one stapled the other's fingers to the back of the board! It could have happened too, the conditions were right!
Just so you can get the full effect of how the clean living room with the 'baby sofa' really does make my new bed look great! Trust me, this is as clean as it will ever get! haha!

Fresh Cut Grass and Baseball

We haven't found too much to do in Mobile yet. It is really ok. I need to be studying and Ben will be working soon, so we aren't dying here. We have a few great friends and it seems that every social outing we have these days seems to involve food!!! So we definitely aren't starving. But we did have the pleasure of catching some FANTASTIC college baseball this past Saturday :-) University of South Alabama vs. University of Alabama. There were some great hits, several home runs, and even (GASP!) umpire chest bumping!!! At least that's what Ben told me.... haha!

I was busy being neurotic, reapplying sunscreen, hair up, hair down, drinking my coke before the ice melted, checking my facebook status, trying to catch the players in great photo poses and dogging the "Diamond Girls", who in fact, ran like the girls who couldn't get on the softball team (I am talking, toes first and pinky fingers up) while trying to catch a glimpse of the opposing team.....

The last inning was terribly exciting even for a girl like me who hardly knows how many innings there are! The final score put the Jaguars tearing up the Crimson Tide, with a 10-9 finish :-) GO JAGS!!

All in all it was a great day with lovely weather, bumping into my Aunt Jan and Uncle Dennis at the game, and leaving with a box of Thin Mints courtesy of Ben's wallet and our local Girl Scouts and knowing that the only place the Tide was rolling was out of town with an "L" next to their name.

Reflections: The Day AFTER The BIG Day

Just before Ben and I became engaged (I had a hunch it was coming) I wrote this below to give him on our wedding day. Needless to say, nothing went as planned! I was 3 hours late to the wedding venue because I regret to inform you, I LEE, had a "melt down" over my hair. (Shocker, I know!) Emmy Belle was the only brave soul who would sit with me as I squalled about my: "Stringy, frizzy, too curly, not curly enough, bleach blonde, 'Oh my! I see roots!!'"head of hair. To which she finally couldn't watch anymore and imparted her 4 year old words of wisdom upon me. As she settled into a chair with a story book to wait on me and thumbed through the pages she said, "Lee-lee, don't cry! You know that God made everybody and he made everybody SO, SO perfect. And you are perfect and very pretty." It was at this moment I was able to bring everything back into perspective. The simple words of a child. Her simple understanding of the world and God's love. Ben loved me no matter what, even with no make-up and ugly hair. I wiped my tears and replied, "Thank you Emmy. Yes, I know, He did make everyone so perfect because He loves us all, right?"She jumped out of the cozy chair, threw her book on the floor and replied, "YES! He loves us!!! Just like I love you! Can we go to your wedding now so I can throw the flowers and eat your cake?!"Of course, Emmy Belle. HAHA! Within minutes I was dressed, hair, head piece and all, walking out the door to walk down the aisle to meet the right, "one".

Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18

I know words can mean nothing. Sadly, I've witnessed this one too many times in my short lifetime. Our love for each other and our love for Christ is an ACTION. Not just words, not beautiful prayers. But what we DO. And what we do with our words.
HOW we ACT.
How we LOVE.
I saw this in Emmy Belle's sweet heart that day when her little words and her bravery to stick around when no one else could stand me.
I feel this everyday that share with Benjamin. Oh my! I have gotten off track! More on this subject later! With that I'll finish my thoughts and share a piece of my love to my Mr.I wish I had a photo of the moment that Emmy and I shared on the floor of her bedroom as I got ready, but I don't. Sadly, "Bridezilla" had scared everyone off (For the record: it was my only "Bridezilla" moment for the ENTIRE wedding season! Gold star for me, right?!) For now however, I will leave you with what I wrote to my Benjamin, that I presented to him just after our wedding and a few photos of the quiet moments we shared the next day hiking in the crisp January cold.

01.01.2011

I must confess, I have had to defy my own gravity;

And during our 3^rd chapter, there came a day when I had to let go and just love you.

Just as you have loved me.

For 963,950,400 moments

You’ve loved me and made sure that I knew it!

That’s 1,834 days.

There have been days we have been far a part

But there was still a love.

And days when we just simply couldn’t say goodbye.

Then you REALLY loved me!

There have been days of absolute and utter personal devastation

Days when there was nothing left but a shell.

Yet you still love;

Even when we weren’t speaking, you called to make sure I was still breathing and remind me that there is always tomorrow.

You’ve lifted me up in prayer and in smiles and awful jokes.

“We’ve sat in the ash of stupid words can’t take back”

Yet we have still loved each other.

You bring out the BEST in me.

You help push me, because you know, like I, You have to change to grow.

You help to remind me of the faith I must exercise as a daughter of the Prince of Peace.

We’ve always been genuine and honest in every part of our lives with each other

And we still love.

They say the best duos are not those who look into each other’s eyes but those who look into the directions.

We wake each morning knowing that when we were born, the Lord provided us with a great inheritance (Ephesians 1:13,14)

In return we serve His Kingdom.

You are a soldier for Christ, just as I am a soldier for Christ

We will not serve ourselves but the Lord first and then those around us and each other.

In tandem each day as Paul tells us in Ephesians we will “Take up the Whole Armor of the God”.

Fastening on the belt of truth

Putting on the breastplate of righteousness

Shoes for our feet, in readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Taking up the shield of faith, to extinguish all the flaming darts of evil.

Taking the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit.

And with that, together we will persevere in the name of the Lord as His ambassadors. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

We are NOT perfect humans but we try. That’s what the Lord calls us to do.

“you and I are best because we know we gotta try”

I stand here before you, promising to try every day, to be a Godly wife,

To be the funny girl, the pretty girl, so yes, I WILL brush my teeth once in while!

The same girl that you met in an 8 am college class which in itself is a miracle that I actually showed up on time to sit in the back and next to you.

To be the same girl who totally stalked you on MYSPACE!

And introduced you to the world of crafts and cookies with munchkin brothers and sisters

Yet I promise to be the girl, who will always see the unbridled beauty of horses,

The girl who is also the woman who wants to change the world and love this life of lemonade as much as possible

I promise to be supporting you in the endeavors that the He calls as I know you support me.

I commit to you this life, within this circle of love.

May the Lord bless you and protect you and shine His face upon us both and be gracious to us, may He give us peace.

Once you choose hope anything is possible.

That day in our chapter 3, I knew it would be you in my heart always.

So with this:

I promise to love you more than any other, in good times and in bad;

I promise to be slow to anger and quick to forgive and to treat each morning as a new opportunity to share life and love with you.

I love you forever Benjamin.

Got to LOVE those honeymoon self portraits!

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

-- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

About the Honeymoon......

Looks like we were excited!

Don't I resemble Lovey Howell from Gilligan's Island here?!

We spent some quite time in Nashville after the wedding and then onto a Caribbean cruise for just a few days before settling back in Mobile.

We received a very generous gift via email (loved it!) from our families after we were engaged.

Title: Important message regarding the Gooch/Emanuel wedding

Dear Lee and Ben,

this is an important note from:

Jeff, Donna, Leslie, and Betsy,

that's right,... your parents ~ so listen up!

We all love you both, and we are very happy, thrilled actually, that you have decided to spend your lives together. We realize that there are a few slightly stressful constraints on putting your wedding together with time and funds in short supply. But, we'll all work together and get this done for a beautiful, peaceful, and joyous time spent celebrating your love and commitment to each other. It will be wonderful with family and friends to enjoy this special day with you.

We do have a small surprise for you,... and since time is short, we will need to go on and let you know about this little surprise, today! (as some additional steps may be needed for this)

Please click the link below to see how and where we would like for you to spend your first few days together as newlyweds.

We hope you'll be safe and well while you are away ~

We know you'll enjoy such a beautiful place to relax and do nothing together ~

We wish for you to have fun, fun, fun ~

~ and we pray for both of you as you begin this new season of your lives together ~

(and please remember to always pray with, and for each other,...very important ~)

now on to your surprise ~ Lee, this is really for Ben, because I know you have already gone to to bottom of the email to see what this is all about, before you even read the words! and Ben knows I'm probably right!,... (Miss 'can't stand not knowing things'!!!.... hahaha)

and trust me Ben, it's going to make y'all happy... so go on and check it out.... oh, and...

please contact the 'parent section' of the Ben and Lee fan club for further info that you will need in order to fully participate in this surprise!! ok ~ here ya go....enjoy, enjoy, we love you ~

talk to you soon !

betsy, leslie, donna and jeff

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

From Lee and Ben: Thank you Mom and Dad! You'll all be glad to know that we are BOTH back on dry land and no one ended up "overboard" while cruising.... :-)

We could have stayed here for days :-)

October Visit To Nashville

Matthew showing me his new design and where his new "Fort" will go
SISTERS!!! Together again!

Back in October I got to come home for the weekend to see my family and attend a friend's wedding. My Benjamin so lovingly drove one Wednesday from Nashville to Mobile in a record 7 hours post pharmacy work, had a business meeting at the University at 9 AM the next morning, then drove me from Mobile to Nashville in time for me to see my family before bedtime. While I got to enjoy the afternoon and share in fall festivities with my little brothers and sisters (see photos below), Ben was on groomsmen duty all afternoon/evening Friday and all day on Saturday. Then Sunday, Ben threw himself BACK in the CAR to get me back to Mobile for a BIG exam (which I made an "A" on! Thank you BEN). He stayed up late with me to assist in my studies and then left Monday morning to head BACKto Nashville for a 12 hour work day the following day! If any of you are counting, YES, Ben spent approximately 32 + hours in the car withing a 3 day period, on the interstate, losing time, money and sleep, just to see me and bring a smile to my face! Have I told y'all how much I LOVE that man!! If not, keep following this blog and you'll soon find out.... For now, check our 2010 pumpkins that the "pumpkins" helped me carve. (Note: no children were physically harmed in the carving of these pumpkins (ignore the choice of carving utensils) though they may be scarred for having to clean out the pumpkin seeds, apparently it looks like, well, you know....)



I am sorry Bo, Jack and Hannah were unavailable to be photographed for this trip due to their lack of cooperativeness... Here are their representative pumpkins....maybe real photos next time.