Mitten Strings for God - Chapter 7

I began this study back in 2008 when my children were much younger.  I never finished.  This morning I woke up very early and was looking for something to read.  I picked the book back up (it's been in my to read shelf all these years) and was reminded how much I loved it.  I also reread my old posts and was thrilled to read of our daily lives.  One day I will look back on my current days and will enjoy reminiscing like I did this morning.  

So lets see what I can do in 2017...

Chapter 7 in Mitten Strings for God is on Play.  

Play is much different in our home than it was in 2008.  

Our current favorite ways to play...

Artie - playing hearts with the men at Evans Training Center or basketball with the boys or ping pong with everyone

Kelly - watch a movie or reading a book

Currently Artie and I have been watching college basketball while the South Carolina Gamecocks made it to the Final Four for the first time in school history. 

Emily - playing with Chloe, shopping in stores and online, and hanging out with Lane

Stephen - video games and basketball

Bobby - running 

Terry - chatting with many friends on his phone, playing football or jumping on the trampoline

Looking back when I was their ages, my favorite play time was time spent with Artie.  Terry is just the age I was when Artie became my boyfriend (8th grade). We wrote notes and snuck around and talked on the telephone (which was attached to a chord and hanging on the wall!).  We went on so many dates - to the mall, the movies, out to dinner, to play putt putt.  Our funnest times were just hanging out at his mama's house cooking tacos with jalapenos and watching movies.  (this picture is probably 10th or 11th grade)

Katrina Kenison (the author) says "Children need time that is utterly their own." I believe that is true for all of us at any age.  Spring break begins here tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to having some free time that we just can't experience as much during the school year.  The neighborhood kids all come and play basketball and football.  Boyfriends and girlfriends will be in the mix of plans.  I'm looking forward to some spring time weather and meals.  It's time to wear flip flops and capri's.  It's a beautiful time to be alive!! 

Cheeseburger Soup (Tripled for a Quinn Meal)

3 T butter
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, shredded
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 t basil
1 t parsley

3 pounds ground beef

9 cups chicken broth
9 cups shredded potatoes, cooked
9 T butter
3/4 cup flour
24 oz shredded cheddar
4 1/2 cups whole milk
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup sour cream

Chop all veggies.
Cook shredded potatoes.
In a saucepan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley.  Add in ground beef and brown and drain.  In a large soup pot add meat mixture, broth, potatoes; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile in a small skillet, melt remaining butter.  Add flour and cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly.  Add to soup.  Cook and stir soup for 2 minutes.  Reduce heat to low.  Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper and stir til cheese melts.  Remove from hear and blend in sour cream.

Guess What I've Done...

I went to work.  Wait a minute I've been working...

I mean I got a job.  I've had a job...

I meant I got a job outside my home and they pay me money!!! 

I am a home caregiver with Comfort Keepers.  I love it.

I always appreciated all the opportunities God gave me with having so many children.  I never have to look far to be able to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. 

Now, God has given me an outside job where I can still minister to people.  When I started looking for a job I was looking back to see what can I do? I have a college degree but much more than that - I have life experience.  I know how to take care of people.  Hey, there's a job where I can do that?  How cool is that...

I am working with all types of people - people with Alzheimer's, cancer patients, elderly patients, people recovering from surgeries, rich, poor, black, white, Christian and Catholic, old and older :-)

I am cooking for, dressing, talking with, walking with, watching TV with, attending Mass with, grocery shopping for, reading to, entertaining and comforting.  There's some gross and yucky parts too, just like with mothering - I'll leave all that part out for you cause I'm sweet like that. 

Everyday is an opportunity to bless someone in need - be it physical, social or spiritual.  While I'm trying to bless others, I'm being blessed as well.  I am being complimented, appreciated, educated, and often even loved. 

My very first client was a Hospice patient and I was privileged to be able to be alone with her when she went to be with the Lord.  What a Holy time.  I am just truly beginning to understand the verse that talks about the day of death being better than the day of birth.  What a blessing to get to walk a believer to the Lord. 

God is so good. I am thankful for this new opportunity He's given me.

Artie at Dunklin

Just to get all the people in the right places, Artie is at Dunklin in Okeechobee, Florida.  He's went in August and has about 17 weeks left til his graduation.  I'm not going to go into all the details here, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask.  He should be back home in May.


I was blessed to go down during October for a weekend visit on our anniversary  We had a wonderful visit.  This is the first time we've ever been apart for more than a week!

Troy at ETC

My guest post ended up taking six months instead of two weeks, but here it is...

This is Troy, mom's second oldest son. I'm currently at Evans Training Center and have been for the last 21 months. When I was fifteen I tried my first cigarette and from there it was less than six months before I was smoking pot. I knew no limits and there was no line I was unwilling to cross. This lasted all the was through my high school career.  When I got to the end of my 12th grade year I still had 3 classes I needed to finish in the summer; but I was way to involved with my fantasy world with my buddies, smoking pot and drinking that school was never something I pursued. Two months after my 19th birthday I found myself in such a lowly place I saw no hope or chance of freedom. One night after a argument with my father I decided I was done with my family and life as I knew it. I, in anger and teenage stupidity, decided I would be better off under a bridge than in the home with my loving family. While I was packing my bags through tears and rage mom ask me if I would like to call Benji. She told me he had a place for guys like me. I called and talked to him for a few minutes and before I got off he told me to call him back the next morning at ten. This went on for three or four days. then on a rainy Monday night mom drove me out t this little house set back in the woods. During my intake interview Ben told me that the little brat that back talked his mom and disrespected his dad would show up. I was sure I could keep up a good face and fool everyone into thinking I was a good'ole boy. It wasn't long before I showed my tail and got truth spoke to me. My program seemed to take forever.  All the way through I knew God was telling me to stay on for Servant Leadership Training (SLT), so after graduating on July 15, 2012 I sighed up for another year. I love where I am. Its still not easy but having God's favor on my life comes by obedience to His word and His word is stay. I came broken and in pieces. God's had me in a pressure cooker for the last two years and he has healed so much in my life.  Now I can help other young men come out of the same bondage that held me for so long. In Ben's words "We are more than conquerors, taking what the enemy used to keep us down and using it to bring glory to our Father."

Brenda's Graduation

While we're waiting on my guest post...


Summer break is more than half way over .  Brenda graduated!!!! 

Brenda and Brian after graduation.

Brenda and Rachel

We were all so proud of all Brenda's accomplishments.  She has already begun her college courses at Spartanburg Community College and will continue towards a Pharmacy Technician certificate in the fall. 

After graduation, Brenda hit the air and headed to New York.  I'll try and get some pictures up soon...

Teeny Tiny Thoughts... #2

Teeny Tiny Thoughts #2


Today's Teeny Tiny Thoughts

• I am trying to clean out my email account - old, old stuff!!
• while cleaning out my email - I found free coupons for Terry and Bobby and Stephen to Sonic.  Do you get their free Wacky Packs for the kids birthdays? 
• Bobby had to go home from the library for me and get my card so I could put some money on my account so I could print the coupons out. 
• worth it for a nice free lunch
• we're having egg salad sandwiches for dinner tonight
• went to Aldi's today - love that store
• also found a $1.99 coupon for Sonic to cover Emily   :-)
• Brenda is working at Medicine Mart this afternoon, she babysat Joseph and Luke this morning - what a great job - she gets paid to go sit by the pool... 
• Emily has begun walking
• Stephen and Bobby are playing on the computers at the library while I'm writing
• Terry is playing with his friend CJ
• watching The Family Meal Table by Nancy Campbell tonight from Netflix
• just finished What If with Kevin Sorbo from Hercules, didn't know he was a Christian - good movie, I'm gonna have to get it and bring it to Troy
• coupons printed for Sonic
• computer time is up for today, will continue my Teeny Tiny Thoughts tomorrow