I chose “LOVED” as my shirt design for Oak River Company because the truth is we ALL struggle with feeling “loved” at times on our journey. I have learned that TRUE LOVE does not come from my feelings, but from my RELATIONSHIP with the one who LOVES me UNCONDITIONALLY. Jesus!!!! He loves deeply and recklessly with and EVERLASTING LOVE! 
So for me, I need that constant reminder that
I. AM. LOVED. My prayer is that you too grow to know and understand the depths of HIS goodness and love! 
Shop our shirts at:  
www.oakrivercompany.com

Love how Rachel from Ginny Marie's in Macon styled our Sojo Crossbody!  Tag us in your photos online with #oakrivercompany

Why we do what we do!
They WILL be called oaks of righteousness, a planting for the Lord. Isaiah 61:3
This is a promise that was spoken over my family in 2011 while on the ground and Rwanda Africa. It was a promise that I received in my heart and my mind, I had no idea what the tree looks like I only knew that I wanted to be planted by the waters of the river of life, I wanted to bear much fruit, I wanted to give all that I had and live in a way that was pleasing and honorable to God. I will admit, there are days when I feel like the branches are withering, and the tree is about dead, and there are days when I feel like the tree has much fruit and a prosperous and is pleasing and good in my sight, and the God reminds me, my goal is not to be pleasing in my own sight, but in the sight of HIM. HE is so gentle and loving and speaks grace into my prideful spirit. He reminds me that even on the days when my tree is withering and the branches same dead but he views me just the same as he does on the days when I feel flourishing and prosperous.
So I say to you today, no matter what you're going through if you feel like you're in a season of drought or if you feel like you're well is full and your life is abundant, know that God is the author of your story and that his plan is good and he is carrying it out to completion in Jesus name!
You WILL BE called oaks of righteousness, a planting for the Lord on display for his splendor. This is a promise you too can claim over your life ❤️
www.oakrivercompany.com
#enjoythejourney

I was working as an interior designer under my husbands LLC for about 4 years and I felt a prompting to establish a name for myself as an avenue to be able to give and also i wanted to create a name for myself and my passions.  I had been praying that the Lord would really show me His path and direct me through this course.  I had no idea where to even begin, but as the Lord promises, if we trust in Him, He will direct our paths and make the way clear.  The light began shinning through one night while I was attending a Fields of Faith event here in my community, Warner Robins, GA, I felt a prompting to establish a company that would give ALL of our proceeds away to help others.  After the event I was talking with my “rock” Wendy, I was sharing the desire and she advised me that if we give it all away, then we are not actually helping others understand the value of hard work, we are just enabling them to remain in the comfortable state of complacency.  She advised me to set up a program that gave scholarships to people and partner with them mentoring them on their journey through life. At the time I had no idea the who’s or the how’s of making this happen, I just knew it made sense, and that I wanted to make society a better place, not enable others.  

I am a very deep thinker and have a healthy relationship of seeking and studying God’s word so that I can understand clearly His promises to me.  I remember very clearly while I was folding laundry one night the Lord spoke to me in a deep and real way.  My thoughts went something like this, Mitzi you will have 2 dates on your head stone one day, the date you were born, and the date you will die, and that is great, but what really matters is “the dash”, what will you do with your dash? I knew that my dash was my Legacy and I was SO FOCUSED in on that thought, that I said, MY DASH is going to be filled with AMAZING and AWESOME stuff, because you are awesome, God!!!  I felt these 2 questions continuously arising in my spirit, " What Legacy will you leave, and What is in that matters to you."  I remember thinking Lord loving broken people is will be my legacy and eternity is what matters, and I am willing to accept your will Lord, so here I am, what next????  The Lord said, just trust me….(i knew in that moment that my dash was my “Legacy”).  After a few weeks of asking God what does He want me to do, where do I go from here with this Legacy, this desire, and this calling.   An opportunity arose within a new design realm for me.  My husband asked me if I wanted to create and design a Legacy Handbag and accessories line.  Since, the Lord equipped me with an I can do anything mentality, I said, “Of Course”.  I can do that!  I had 3 designs in his hand within 2 days. The Lord united my husband Ken’s heart with mine by establishing our purpose for giving is to mentor with local middle school and high school kids and through that mentorship establish a scholarship program for the kids to be able to go serve others around the world.  So not only are we pouring into the lives of our own children, but we are also sharing the love of Jesus with others around the world.   Right now, February 2016, we are currently working with about 175 kids in our local community.

You see I am just a simple girl with a HUGE heart and passion for people.  Legacy is in the business of people, life change, and Jesus, only we are disguised as a leather company.  The Lord has given me some crazy BIG dreams and desires, but the cool part about God is that He is a BIG God.  He created us and prepared His works for us in advance, and I am just willing and crazy enough to accept and believe His promises over my life. I LOVE MY JOURNEY, the good, the bad and the ugly, it has made me who I am today.   It has not been an easy journey at all, but I know that God chooses the strongest warriors for the hardest battles, and I KNOW that all i have to do is rest in who God is.  He is a Good, Good, Father and He loves us SO MUCH!!!

I can assure you that my dash will be full of HIS FAITHFULNESS, and all who know me will know LOVE, because my God is LOVE and He is driving this heart to beat within the crevices of this body of mine, and as long as my life has breath I will face each day with His story on my heart, ready and willing to give an account of why I do what I do.  I GIVE, because HE GAVE…..John 3:16

Enjoying The Journey,

Mitzi Galason
CEO/Designer of Legacy Design Group LLC

Today Ken and I had a unique opportunity to visit a state prison.  Strange as it may sound when I walked through the gates I was overjoyed with the atmosphere.  As I looked around while walking the campus what most may call hopeless, wretched, or a waste.  I happened to see hope, beauty, and new life, I saw life change.  The Lord placed a small seed of vision within and I am confident that my vision is so small in comparison to what the Lord has in store for our future.  

I saw mothers, daughters, grandmothers, nieces, aunts and sisters who longed for hope.  As I walked through the campus, I looked  into the souls of the women I passed, and greeted them with they eyes of grace and love and casual "good morning" as they gave me a small smile followed by a good morning, they immediately looked down as though they  were carrying guilt and shame.  I wanted SO BADLY to grab hug them and look them in the eye and say no precious one, you are forgiven, you are loved and your life has purpose, lay down the weight of the world and wrap up in the clothing of grace and forgiveness, because YOU ARE WORTHY.   I saw women who longed for their families, some carried worn and tattered pictures around with them and you could tell by the looks of the pictures that they carried them daily and most likely everywhere they went.  They were clinging to "hope" the hope of unity with the ones they loved, but the one that caught my eye the most was a postcard that read, "I am loved, I am valued, my life has purpose, because I am forgiven and I have been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ."  This stopped me in my tracks, this caused me to "breathe deep" Jesus into my soul and breathe out love.  It was a moment of confirmation within my soul that Jesus heard my heart cries that He placed there just 10 minutes earlier.  It was His way of saying to me, "Just TRUST ME, Mitzi, I am carrying you."  As I looked deep into the souls of the ones that are "forgotten" my heart was inspired my soul was SO FULL, I found myself swimming in grace, in that moment I realized my purpose is way bigger than what meets the eye.  

This is only the beginning of this AMAZING Journey and I can not wait to unveil SO MUCH more as the Lord gives us direction.  The best is yet to come.....

Enjoying The Journey.....

Mitzi Galason

**I am sticking with God.  I say it over and over again-He is all i've got left.  He proves to be good to me and to ALL who passionately waiting diligently seek Him.  It's a good thing to quietly hope for help from God.  Lamentations 3:24-26

​Lord, May you be Glorified!

We are so excited about the recent article in Town and Gown Magazine about Legacy Design Group and our mission to help others! The article covers our story, our products, and our partnership with Africa New Life Ministries.  Special thanks to Camille Watts for writing it!

To read the full article, visit this link. 

Great things are happening! God is good!

Christmas Blessings,
Mitzi

For me giving is something that come so natural to me, its like breathing, its just who I am.  I give when the Spirit prompts my heart, it is SO filling and satisfies my soul.  It's not for recognition or to be known, and sometimes it is SO small, but I am learning that God uses the small stuff in a BIG way.  He has such a way of reaching people through small simple acts of kindness or even just a kind word spoken.  There is no secret to kindness, giving, or to seeing the needs of others around you, it just takes a willing spirit that is seeking opportunity to be a part of something much BIGGER than you or me.  It just takes a heart that is ok with being a simple thread of love in the life of people around you, with the understanding that your thread of love is helping to weave an eternal tapestry of grace, mercy, forgiveness and healing to a broken world around us.  I like to call this confidence in the calling, knowing you will look back on your life and see those seeds that you planted and you will reap a harvest that was totally worth the tiny sacrifice, whatever that may be.  

So my challenge to you this Christmas season is to GIVE.  Your giving doesn't have to be big, but just seek out the needs of the world around you and be willing to invest in something that brings life and purpose to your soul.  It may be your time, your energy, a listening ear, or maybe paying for someone lunch or groceries.  It could even be going to wal-mart and paying off a total strangers layaway or seeking out that family in your child's class that needs a little help this Christmas season.  Whatever your calling is rise up and dig in.....The Best is Yet to Come.....

If you feel led to BLESS us with your stories of giving, please email them to mitzi@leave-a-legacy.net
We want to hear from you!  We want to be inspired and we want to share your "Legacy" with the world to inspire others!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY GIVING!!!
Enjoy The Journey Friends,
You ARE Loved!!!

-Mitzi Galason

When we began our Journey we started asking God to give us clarity in what our purpose was, and boy was He faithful in answering.  Our purpose is to mentor middle school and high school students on their Journey we call life, and today I would like to share with you a few powerful pictures of what the Lord is doing through you and your purchase of our products.  

Brookdale Elementary School thanks Ken and Mitzi Galason from Legacy Design and Interior of Warner Robins, Georgia for their generous donation. 

Four years ago, Brookdale underwent renovations that afforded the school the opportunity to obtain an Access restroom equipped with a washer and dryer connection. Mr. and Mrs. Galason graciously donated a washer and dryer to the school. Brookdale faculty and staff are excited to be able to offer students such a valuable resource.

This gift will be used for children who experience a high level of poverty, some even homelessness. Mitzi states, " It was our honor to be able to be a small part of such a BIG picture and we can not wait to GIVE MORE, GIVE BIGGER, and Love with every once of our being."  

Many of you may have questions about the difference between top grain leather and genuine leather. But what exactly do these mean? When you're buying your fancy leather briefcase, jacket, or shoes, you should know exactly what to look for in your leather. Well today I would like to shed some light in this area of understanding hoping to make the difference between the two clear to you.  

Full grain leather  is a full body leather, with all the imperfections and inherent toughness of the material. It is one of the most natural and durable leather on the market.  

 It's often used for heavy-duty leather items, like weapon holsters and utility belts. But it can also be used (with great success) for dress belts, briefcases, dress shoes, work boots, and numerous other leather goods.

Full-grain is hard-as-nails leather that will develop a rich patina as it ages, looking more and more beautiful as you use it. It's widely recognized as the best and highest-quality leather money can buy.
Often much more expensive, full-grain pays dividends with its durability. If you invest in an item made with full-grain leather, you will probably have that item for the rest of your life if you take care of it properly.
 
For leather lovers who prefer to keep their top grain leather without scratch or burn, you can buy a leather milk product to keep your leather conditioned and without scars, I personally love the scars, I think they offer character and tell a deep story of love.    

Genuine leather doesn't just mean that the product is made of real leather (which it is), but it also means it is the lowest quality of all products made out of real leather.  

Genuine leather is a highly processed leather.

 Genuine leather is scaled back to a very thin substance and usually dyed heavily and sometimes it is painted, stamped, or sealed causing it to look almost "pleathery" if you will.  

Genuine leather products are designed to last on its best day for about a year maybe two before you start seeing wear and tear, most of the time genuine leather is non repairable. This grade of leather is acceptable if you're just buying something cheaply and don't care too much about its quality. It won't last very long, so it probably shouldn't be something you use every day. 


Enjoy The Journey Friends!
​-Mitzi Galason


​

My name is Mitzi Galason, CEO of Legacy Design Group, Interior Designer and Mommy of Addison, Kaden, Isaiah, Jonathan and Rebecca, and MANY other children around the world.   I grew up in the small town of Duck Hill, Mississippi.  If you have ever heard my husband Ken talk about it, you would know that he swears it is the center of the universe.  He would ask you something like this, "Have you heard the story of Adam and Eve?"  Jokingly most people say yes!  Ken would respond with something like this, "Well Duck Hill is where the story of Adam and Eve took place."  To this day, I have not figured out if Ken's perspective is a good thing or a bad thing, but for me, I find it to be great truth in the aspect of my life personally.  For me, Duck Hill, Mississippi is the beginning, it is where my story began, and I am forever grateful that God chose for me this community to establish my foundation and my beginning.

I grew up in a home where we didn't have an abundance of things and life wasn't always a bouquet of roses.  I faced many challenges in my life, but these challenges and the choices that I made throughout my Journey are what made me the person I am today and for that, I wouldn't change a thing.  My prayer is that the Lord uses my testimony in the lives of many across the world to reach people for His Glory.  When people see me, I want them to know that I am a broken mess in the hands of a Creator that restores and gives broken new beginnings.   I am the person I am today because the Lord never gave up on me.  I am also thankful that He chose to use my family as well as the community of believers who never gave up on me to breath life, hope and who loved me in the midst of my darkness. 

The roots of my foundation run deep in the rich soil of Mississippi, and the people of my community as well as people in communities around the world have invested so much into this little heart of mine, creating a passion for people and a desire to give back in ways that are beyond my level of comprehension.  
May God be Glorified....

ENJOY THE JOURNEY FRIENDS.....
You Are Loved!

-Mitzi Galason