Clara Bell Gober Tyson May...kinda has a ring to it...

Well, today is the 2nd anniversary of my grandmother's passing. It was a horrific day and I feel that I am traumatized by it. I had nightmares all night long and couldn't sleep but I am blogging today not about her death but about the tremendous life she lead.

Its funny to me how when you think of a grandmother you think of a sweet little old lady. Well, let me tell you, my Granny was NOT that! She was kind but she was strong. She was pretty, not in the dainty grandmotherly way but in the way that happens when you have a life full of laughter and hard times all mixed together. She had strong shoulders, a strong back, and thick skin. She had salt and pepper hair that was more pepper than salt and kind eyes. She was a TRUE southern woman. She had an infectious smile and mischievous look about her as if she knew that life was far more worth while if you had a little unconventional fun. She could read emotions and knew when one of her children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren was sad, happy, excited or up to no good. She had a way about her that can never be replaced but will always be cherished.

Granny out-lived two husbands and her baby girl and yet she still always had laughter curling her lips and found joy in the life with her remaining family. I didn't want this to really read like a tribute or memorial. If I were to decide to write one of those about my granny then it would take months of writing, rewriting and then finally I would probably trash the whole thing because how do you write something about one of the most amazing people you have ever had the priviledge to know? The simplicity of it is this: when the weather is really bad, I cry because I know my Granny would be blowing up my phone to tell me to stay at home and turn on the news, when its a beautiful day with awesome weather I think of Granny because it was days like those that I loved to go to her house, drink coffee and sit out by her pond just chatting; well, mostly listening and laughing. I will miss her always, but I know that reunion she had with her little girl and the love of her life was so incredible and I am so happy that she is praising our Lord and Creator for healing her of cancer and allowing her to have such a fulfilled life, and she gets to do it face to face! WOW!

At her graveside my oldest sister, Terri, and my cousin, Sydney and I sang "In The Garden". I had read a story once where it said when the wind blows at a funeral you know it is the spirit of the person who has passed away letting you know that they appreciate what you are doing and are in a better place. Well, as my sister and cousin and I sang that song, a strong wind blew through the tent and almost knocked the pole out of the ground. I had to smile because if Granny was going to let us know that she was there, she wouldn't just let a breeze kiss our cheeks, she would make a statement with it. Maybe it was just a windy day, but I like to think it was her, letting me know she was there.

I love you Granny, you will forever be in my heart and a part of who I am. I hope to make you proud in all of my endeavors.

The Saints, Sewing, and Olivia Claire

First and foremost I have to give props to THE SAINTS!! WOO HOO! I was SO excited that they won and are going to the Superbowl. My sweet daddy has been a fan ever since they began their journey in New Orleans so it seems that black and gold runs in my veins. It is going to be the first superbowl that I actually watch for something other than the half-time show and the commercials. Stephen is a big Colts fan so i'm sure it will be very interesting. I, of course, am pulling for the Saints!



Well, today I singed up for my first BEGINNERS sewing class. I am SUPER excited. Who knew that I would end up being, or at least aspiring to be crafty? My mom has always been a great seamstress so I have huge shoes to fill but I really hope it catches on in my brain. You never know with me, if it doesn't click then it will be yet another thing that gets thrown to the side like the flute, softball, the piano, children's choir, oh the list goes on and on and on. I may have to change this blog to: "The Adventures of Sewing" depending of course on if it really ends up being an adventure and not a totally frustrating, chaotic mess. Then again, who wants to read endless blogs on my very basic attempts to sew. I think i'll keep it the way it is....that way it can cover the plethora of things in my life both mundane and exciting. I do of course, hope sewing is "exciting" as silly as it sounds.



And to finalize my blog I have to write about my sweet niece Olivia Claire. She turns 3 years old today. I was there when she was born. It would turn out to be another 26 days until Parker, my oldest son, decided to enter the world. They were supposed to be just 10 days apart and since she came very early and he came very late....there is now a 26 day difference. Yes, to you, the reader, that isn't much, but when you are hugely pregnant and your sister goes into labor weeks early and then you have to wait 26 long torturing days, it seems like it will never end. So, back to January 25th 2007. I was at home in Sanford, NC and it was around 4:30 or 5am. Wendi calls and says she is probably going to the hospital at 8. So, I get up, call in to work and start gathering things I think she will need knowing that Wes probably will forget...including an ENORMOUS basket of coins. I guess I thought that there would be noway to get to real food and we would be dining on vending machine sandwiches and coke for their entire stay in the hospital. I drove the 25 minutes to their condo in Apex and was SUPER excited. I get reminding knots in my stomach just thinking about it. They let me stay in the delivery room and watch the whole thing but made me sit because they just knew I would pass out at the sight of another woman pushing out a baby. It was quite the opposite. I couldn't stay in that seat. I was SO excited and bawling and just couldn't believe this little tiny bundle of spirit and joy was going to be my sister's new daughter. It was an amazing day and has been an amazing 3 years. She is such a lovely little girl with wild hair, hilarious antics and a sweet, nurturing nature. I adore her and everything that goes into who she is, my sweet little Livi.

The first of many.....

So, i've started a blog. I've been talking about it for a long time now and figure, while it might just be one of those things like journals and excersize that seem to be put on the backburner in my life...maybe this habit will stick. As for the title. My entire life, well since I was 15, there has been an issue with my name; Deborah Leigh Brown Holt, thats it. It seems like a simple enough name, the issue is that when I was 15 I decided to become "Leigh" instead of the "Debbi" I had been up to that point. Recently one of my friends found out about this prior use of "Debbi" via the wonderful world of FACEBOOK and now it is a big joke amoung my new friends who know me as "Leigh". So, her husband who thinks he is SO amusing asked her, to ask me, if i've ever "Done Dallas". Well I thought it was funny because I think he is SO amusing too and that is where my blog title came from. Sorry mom, if this has any bad implications....for the record I have never "done" any kind of city, well not in the way that it implies.

The meat of who Deborah Leigh Brown Holt is. I was born in a tiny town, Harrisville, MS and considered myself not as much from there, but only being reared there until my parent's found a city more presentable. I have since become very fond of my childhood in my very tiny town. There is a lot a country girl knows about things that I think would have otherwise passed her by and for this, I am proud of Harrisville, my hometown. I will skip a whole lot of nonsense and put you to the me I am today.

I am 28 years old. I have a fantastic family and wonderful friends. I married a wonderful man January 15th, 2005 who is a pilot in the Air Force and is the wonderful father of our 2 boys. Parker is almost 3 and is exactly like his father in action and genetic makeup. They could be twins and are both annoyed by people's lack of understanding on things they think are important. Elijah is almost 2 and is hilarious and big goofball and thinks its hilarious to get on the nerves of those aforementioned men, mainly his big brother. I also have a cocker spaniel, Jolene who my husband bought for me just 2 weeks after we got married and 3 weeks before he deployed for the first time being my husband. She is as spoiled as any dog who was raised by a lonely military wife can be expected to be and thinks that she owns our house, and well, she does get her way most of the time. All of the people in my life are delights and I have so much fun with them and lots of worry, and LOTS of wondering where my sanity will go when the final thread does leave me. That is enough for today.

My following blogs will probably be about these people who I have named but i'm sure I will drag more names into this whole thing before its all said and done. I hope SOMEBODY out there can relate to my crazy life and has fun reading and commenting!

Leigh, or Debbi (yes this is what it has become)