Candice and the new house... and BABY!

Harrison wanting to wear his dad's saints hat to nursery school... :) He's so cute


Growing boy! He's having a hard time these days being able to sit under his table since he's SOO TALL!



Cooking dinner for his mommy!





Candice and her sweet baby boy! Easter 2010

Engagement Party :) Formerly the Oliver Britt House, now called the 512 in Oxford, MS

Family Dinner at City Grocery

Just wanted to spend today to blog about my sweet Candice... She and her hubby, Glenn, have just bought a house in a GREATTTTT part of Baton Rouge (mine and Rickey's future home) and I am sooo excited for them! This is her first time to buy a house, since they rented in Houston, knowing they would not be there for the rest of thier lives.. Also, with the new house I am just so dang excited to say that they are having a new BABY! Baby Benjamin will be here so soon after the wedding and I am so excited to meet him! That Harrison and Ben are just the light of our family's eyes and Rickey and I are so excited that once we move to BR, we will get to spend so much more time together.. Candice is seriously the sweetest and most thoughtful person in the world, besides being a fantastic mom, a peacemaker, a philanthropist, and just awesome sister... I love her and today, this blog's for you!!!

LOVE YOU CANDICE, GLENN, Baby Harrison and new baby BEN!

avec tout mon couer,

Lacey

50 days and counting... SCARY

Im posting this at 5:18 in the morning... Gosh, where has my sleep gone.... :( Working nights and planning this wedding while trying to get everything together to POSSIBLY move in the near future has switched my nights and days up so terribly.. and there are also a slew of baseball players over here that are studying for finals with Rickey- so while im writing this, I am listening to a "wager game/study session" that is being held in my kitchen using flashcards and history questions.. So far, Cody Kelly seems to be in the lead in getting questions right and wagering points.. Rickey is a very good teacher so I hope they all do good. Poor things are all having to take thier finals late because of the GSC baseball tournament that was held this week here in cleveland.. Anywho.. Enough about that...

First on the blog agenda.. I cant believe we are down to FIFTY DAYS... 50 days... 5-0... It really seems like just yesterday, we were just getting engaged.. and In a few sum odd days, we will be saying I DO and this wedding will be a sweet sweet memory of planning, some stress, and lots of boxes taking up my living room. I am ready for it to be here. I am excited to say my vows, which Rickey and I will write ourselves and also say traditional vows. Rickey is very nervous about this and I have even given him the clearance to say NO but he's dead set on writing his own vows to say. This stems back to the first time that we ever had a conversation with each other on the phone.... When Rick was playing baseball in Johnson City, all we had was the phone to get to know each other. We would play the famous "question game" in getting to know each other- he would ask one, I answer.. I would then ask one, he would answer.. These questions would stem from the senseless ("If you could dress up as any MLB mascot and dance on the field, who would you choose to be and why?") to the need-to-know ("What is the kind of girl you'd like to marry?").. The latter question was posed to Rickey as the SECOND question in our phone conversation span, and he answered with a long description of this and that, this and that.. And then he paused and said "My only condition for my future wife, is that she and I write and recite our own vows to each other at our wedding"... Now, this caught me off guard at the time because it was definately something that I have always wanted to do and girls, who plan weddings forever and ever since we are little, think about these things.. But guys? I mean, who does that and especially SAYS that? It was perfect... So in that conversation, we mutually agreed that was something that we LOVED and something we would both agree to do in our OWN weddings- never imaging we'd get to share that together in our wedding to each other... :)

And so it is... He still wants to do it.. Although I've given him chances to back out he still wants to do it.. He calls it "manning up".. I like to think of it as keeping a promise he didnt even know he was making to me on day one.. I havent sat down and written mine yet where as Rick has, but I say them, certain words and phrases that I know I will say, in the car when Im alone and get emotional EACH and EVERY time.. I know they wont be too long- 5 to 6 lines at the most for each of us- but some of the most dear words I could ever recite off my heart. I definately want to take traditional vows as well.. Those traditional vows are precious words, the words that a preacher speaks on behalf of his ministry from The Lord, are timeless. Words that couples and generations of our families have spoken for years and years and years and YEARS. Words that have carried such a meaning- there is not much else that is comparable. I definately want to say the same words that have been recited throughout the course of time.. with the addition of my very own words to Rickey.. It promises to be an emotional ceremony and there probably wont be a dry eye in the room.. So bring a hanky :)

While its on my mind- say a prayer for my wedding photographer Debbie Medlock.. Her family has experianced a great loss and her husband has been ill.. Keep her and them in your prayers.. They are a special group of people and Debbie and Mike are two of the sweetest people you would ever meet.

Simone Says....

John A. Simone, Jr. said it best when he said, "When you're in a bad situation, dont worry it'll change. When you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change." There are so many things that are going on right now in my life, my fiance's life, our life together, my family's lives, our jobs and careers, our schools, our homes, our cities.. Everything seems to be changing- for the good and sometimes for the bad.

Rickey and i are here in cleveland, waiting on his graduation, praying for jobs in LA so we can be closer to our family there.. We are waiting on our wedding, which is 57 days out. My sister is moving to Jackson to start nursing school in June. My OTHER sister is moving to Baton Rouge in May. Baby Benjamin is due in July. Trying to find places for Rickey and I to eventually live in a possible 6 month plan is hard, and getting ideas for jobs and schools for us is a challenge in itself when this is only a plan B. Working a schedule that constantly changes is leaving me exhausted.. So many changes. SO LITTLE TIME. So much to think about and swallow.

Change happens. It's inevitible, i understand that. Sometimes I get so frustrated with situations, it can be so hard to stay positive and focus on the change that will come- whether that be bad OR good.. There are things that I WANT to happen, and things that I PRAY happen.. But seems like more and more the things that I want and desire just aren't happenin.. Then I stop and realize, that there is a bigger plan in store and I just have to keep focused on the main purpose I am here to serve. I feel like that purpose is to love people and give to others more than giving to myself. That purpose is to lead a life that others would see as an example and to follow the faith that I am focused on. What is meant to happen WILL happen, for sure. Rickey and I have some great destinations in store, I know that in my heart. I just have to realize that it's not MY job to plan it out- its MY job to be patient and follow the road that I am supposed to travel down, just as a vessel while im here on this earth. Part of being human, is wanting to be in control of our own lives. What I have learned, is that we arent in control at all... and when we try to control our lives- the curveball is thrown and the changes arise.. It's a play that the Lord uses to prove to us HE'S IN CONTROL.. In the baseball world, we would almost call this play a sacrifice bunt, where we give up our control and what is best for US for a better move ahead..I pray for patience for the changes that are happening, the GREAT changes I am excited about and some of the bad changes that have disappointed me. In due time, it will all reveal itself.. Where Rickey will coach, where he will teach, where I will work, where we will both further our educations, where we will live, etc etc... and those changes will all be great! And the great changes now- having a new nephew, Brittany doing amazing in a field that I am proud of, Candice moving to a new city and starting a life that I KNOW she has always wanted to start, and being able to MARRY the man of my dreams that totally changed my life- all these great changes are exciting and amazing.

In due time.. In due time...

Avec tout mon couer,

Lace

Denham Springs Shower

Rickey and I were so excited (and lucky) to be thrown a bridal shower at the Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs, LA last Sunday. Since I didn't really know everyone, Rickey thought that he might just tag a long to see what a "bridal shower" is all about. Needless to say, he was an absolute HAM and had a fun time. It was also so nice for all the ladies of the church who threw the shower for us to get to me US, he and I, and spend time interacting with us both. We were soooo fortunate to be able to have a fun filled afternoon, laughing and joking with everyone, opening some fabulous presents, and eating some yummmmmmy food!

Along with some of the great gifts, I got to open a gift from Rickey's mother, Mrs. Dana, who is the most wonderful person in the world. She gave me a set of pearl earrings and a bracelet that she had restrung and set in white gold clasps. Naturally I got emotional, since the present was so beautiful. Only did I learn after I opened this gift- that it was Rickey's Great Great Grandmother's pearls - his Mamaw Cornett. This was the most special gift I have ever recieved, other than Rickey asking me to marry him with my engagement ring. I have the best family in the world, great friends, and the most fantastic support system. I am a blessed girl.

Here are some pics of the shower! I will have more when Candice sends me the ones she took. There are from Ms. Teresa Brian.

Avec tout mon couer,

Lace

My Little Helper Elf

In my mind, I think that Abner has decided that he likes wedding planning. Here recently, as we are closer to saying our vows, we have started to recieve some packages in the mail. UPS, FedEx, and the post man are all fluent with our mailbox and front door. When the doorbell rings, Abner has learned that usually someone is here to visit, and he might be bringing a BOX. Something about doggies and the small things in life I guess. They love boxes, sticks, shoes, string. You can buy them a $12.00 doggie present for them to nibble on or a $20.00 frisbee, but if they have a choice, they will choose the piece of rolled up paper on the floor and play with that for hours.

Abner KNOWS when I open the door and there is a big, square, brown thing sitting on the ground that we are about to have a blast. I bring the package in the house as he wags and trips over his own feet in excitement. His eyes and smile just scream, "MOM! What is THHATTT!" and the howling begins.

Today was one of those days. There was a Ding-Dong! at the door and Abner went a runnin'. We got the package in the house and I proceeded to open the box flaps to find the little morsel popcorn-packer things. I dug around, while abner was in amazement, and pulled out a beautifully wrapped Silver gift with a bow. I unrapped the box, leaving the bow and paper on the floor and ran to the bathroom, not thinking ANYTHING about that box or Abner... And upon my arrival back in the living room... This is what i saw.

Abner Loves to open wedding presents. And especially loves the bows. Candice told me that however many ribbons you break when opening wedding gifts, are the number of children that you will have. Lets not leave this up to Abner....... :)

More pics to come as soon as I get some time. Dinner is ready.

Avec tout mon couer,

Lacey Marie

Spa Day..

Sounds nice, doesn't it? A day at the spa where everyone dotes on you, fixes you all pretty and presentable, brings you lunch and rolls out a bed for you to snooze on when you're tired... Not me, nope, I didn't get the royal treatment as a gift from Rickey or anything.... But Abner did! Abner had his first "spa day" as Rickey and I liked to call it. Being that our child\doggie is an alaskan malamute and resides in Mississippi, the poor baby sheds-relentlessly. If you have ever seen this (you can pull up videos of these breeds of pups being brushed), you know that their coats are insane. Beautiful yes, but a disaster to clean and groom come spring. Now, this isn't a problem for ole Abs, cause he just loves to get brushed and bathed and hugged and kissed. And its not a problem heat-wise for him because its not warm enough for it to be a problem. After purchasing brooms, swiffers after swiffers, and a pet hair vacuum, we were fed up. This morning, after waiting an entire month to get on our vets grooming list (this is obviously a popular thing to do in cleveland) we had an appointment. Rickey and I were naturally nervous and explained every detail of. Abner's life to his grooming lady, charlye. We explained his meds, we explained what treats he liked, we hugged and kissed him goodbye like we'd never see him again. Rickey worried more of his hips and his aching and I was just concerned that he would be scared alone. He spent the entire day there, from 9 to 5, and got bathed, clipped, brushed, ears trimmed, teeth brushed, fed, and loved playing with all the other doggied! They bragged and bragged and BRAGGED on how sweeeeeeeeeeeeet he was and how good he behaved. I was a proud mommy. When we got home he seemed to be so proud of his beautiful coat and full of energy and happiness. I'm glad he had a good day, goodness knows he deserves it! :) I'm such a fan of my pup, can u tell? ;)

This weekend was fantastic. Beautiful weather, baseball games, my sweet family, my friends, and fiance- life is good. The Delta State boys played Sat and Sun and I got to enjoy the days off from work. Hillary, brancy's girlfriend, came down to visit from Illinois so I got to spend time with her and it was so nice to have a girl around.. I also worked on more wedding stuff. Since we have 108 days to go, it looks like www.theknot.com threw up in our living room. Chocolate brown ribbons are literally tied in perfectly precious bows on everything I can get my hands on. Fans, presents, programs, invitations, 100's of hurricane candle holders are just stashed away in corners of our living room. Its pretty exciting. We have been getting packages and packages in the mail almost every day. From our napkins to our gifts, its feeling like christmas, that we paid for ourselves. I'm getting excited and nervous at the same time. Thoughts of "is this going to finally pull together?" Run through my mind constantly. Its times like this that I miss Betty uncontrollably. I know that if she were here I could ask her "how to do this" or "what to do about that" and she'd whip it right up-DONE (and perfectly done at that). I think I've taken this on so much because I want to do what she'd do, I want to really make her proud. For 8 months I've been working on this little project and I want it to flow well.. I don't have to sit and wish it was perfect though because I know that it already is. I'm marrying the most perfect, and I mean absolutely perfect man for me- and that's all I need. Rickey was definately sent from God to me, and was approved by Betty bug so I know she'll be with me on that day. Everything else on June 26th is an added bonus to the day I committ my life to my husband.
Plans are underway for Rickey's bachelor party weekend in St. Louis on June 19th.. The brothers Ryan and Steve are in charge and I'm excited to see what they have in store for Rickey. I know they are going to the Cardinals vs. A's baseball game and will hit the town thqt weekend for sure. I'm really excited for Rickey. He's wanted to visit new Busch for a some time now, and playing for them makes this a bitter sweet and super fun trip..

My family is also going to be undergoing changes in the next few months as well.. By June, all our lives are going to be crazy so just pray we get it all going. Brittany got accepted into UMC's nursing program in Jackson so she will be moving in May at the end of the semester. Terri Lynn will either be studying abroad in Paris, France or a town outside of Paris during the Summer\Fall. Candice and Glenn are expecting baby number two (WHHHOOOO HOOOO) and will be closing on the new Baton Rouge house very soon. Glenn has taken a physicians position at The Neurology Group in Baton Rouge so needless to say, Rickey and I are VERRRRRRRY excited they will be moving to Baton Rouge with us! We have two more years here in Cleveland, but we know that time will go by fast enough. I cannot express how excited I am for all these changes.

We are really missing our friends from home and family crew. Come visit us :(.. Being homesick sucks...

Guess I'd better get back to work. Its 5:00am and time to save more lives. ;)

Avec tout mon couer,
Lacey

Tying Ribbons and Bows

Just had to share. Rickey and Abner eat breakfast together EVERY morning. I loved this pic. :)

Today I had the day off so I spent most of the time cleaning, sweeping Abner's hair off the wood floor (he's shedding his winter coat uncontrollably), making homeade lasagna for the boys who patched the ceiling when Brancy fell through the roof (if u didnt hear this story, I will blog regarding it soon), and doing wedding stuff. Tomorrow marks the official "4 month" mark to the wedding and we are down to doing the tedious tasks of "small but large" details for the wedding. Some days I feel soooooooooo unprepared for this one special day, I get so worried. But, im just holding fast that all these plans we have made so far will come together beautifully.

Some brides might not be able to say this truthfully, but I very well can. My fiance' is the absolute BIGGEST help in wedding planning and I appreciate him so much for that. Here recently, our time has been slim to none with each other due to our night and day schedules. Today, he got out of practice early and had two hours before he had to go to class, so we sat at our breakfast table and tied ribbons and bows on 144 tubes of bubbles. We had this explosion of chocolate brown and ivory ribbon everywhere and developed an assembly line that actually worked out perfectly. Who ever thought that Rickey Craig would get a kick out of making sure the ribbons were perfectly tied and perfectly even - he's so good. ;)

Rick had a project regarding the Mississippi Delta and had to take some photos of "delta things" for class. When he came home, we uploaded his pictures and I realized I had a ton of pictures of Monmouth Plantation where we will be having the ceremony and reception. Thought I would post these and navigate you around the grounds.... Please remember that we went to visit in January so nothing is in bloom.. Come Spring, this place will be blossoming!! So soon we will all be there saying I Do! Yahoo!

Avec tout mon couer,
Lace

main dining room

Front entryway to the Main House at Monmouth

second Dining Room

Front Door of Monmouth

side view of Monmouth

one of the sidewalks from the Carriage House to the Main House

side view of Wisteria Pergola. This is where we will have the ceremony.

View from Rickey's Room. He will literally walk from his front door to the ceremony, down this trail. Pergola is on Left side of pic - pond is straight ahead

Rickey's Room and Brothers rooms.. less than 100 steps from Ceremony

part of Garden Room where the reception will be held

Another part of Garden Room where reception is held.. they still had up christmas decor when we visited

outside of Garden Room for reception

front door of Garden Room for reception

The Garden Room from side angle

walking towards the Reception from the Ceremony (this is the path that rickey takes from his room also, seen above in pic

This is the Chef's Herb Garden, outside of the Main House

This is my walkway from the Main House to the Pergola. STRAIGHT AHEAD to I DO!

an outdoor courtyard by the main house

Quitman Cigar Room and Bar on the side of the Main House

Quitman Cigar Room and bar on the side of the main house

View from Wisteria Pergola up to the Main House

Walk way to the Reception from Ceremony side - on the side of Pergola

And this is the Wisteria Pergola from the front... :) Cant wait to see everything in bloom - we went in JANUARY