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!! 

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 and Artie

Artie at Work

Father's Day

We took some pictures of Artie and the kids on Father's Day before we went to visit Granddaddy and my Daddy. They turned out so good I had to post them all!! (Well, I didn't post them all, but several)

Daddy and Troy - I think this is my favorite in the bunch. Troy looks so handsome here...

Daddy and Brenda

Daddy and Emily

Daddy and Stephen

Daddy and Bobby

Daddy and Terry

(Such cute babies! I am so blessed for Artie to be their father!!)

Artie's New Toy

All the children had to try it out. Mama waited. Maybe next time...

Artie's 40th Surprise Party

Our friends - Jack and Nikki gave Artie a wonderful surprise 40th birthday party. He had a couple of questions, but I think in the end he was surprised. Guess they were all surprised when we showed up 30 minutes late. Artie had decided it was his birthday and he wasn't going to rush!! :-)

Nikki got Artie a wonderful birthday hat to wear for the evening. :-)

There was lots of food - here's Artie with his big steak. Nikki asked what kind of cake he liked best - steak!!

Lots of friends from work came. Here is one of Artie's favorite people - Timmy.

They played lots of games. Here they are throwing darts in the garage.

Artie tried to catch up with the times and play the Wii.

Nikki wore Jack out on most of the games. :-)
Jack and Artie always seem to end up like this....

(here they are at Jack's wedding)

Artie's Joy

Artie is slowly making over his favorite truck!! Granddaddy gave this truck to Troy and Troy decided he would rather have a car - he gave the truck to Artie. Now Artie is in love with his new old truck - especially because of the fact that it was Grandy's!!!

This month he put new tires on it. We tagged it and added it on the insurance - so it is road ready!!

He also asked for money for Father's day - to be applied to the truck. He is currently deciding what he is going to do next. There are lot's of possibilities!! :-)

Artie's Birthday

I did it, I did it!!!!

Friday was Artie's 39TH birthday and I pulled off the most wonderful birthday surprise. All he knew was that on Saturday, we were loading up in the car (two cars actutally) and heading out for a road trip somewhere in North Carolina about two hours away. He had no idea where we were going and tried to be a good sport about it. :-) It was the most beautiful day - the sky was so blue.


We took him skydiving!!!! It was his very first jump. This is on his list of things he had to do in his lifetime. (Now if I could figure out how to get a dinner with Terry Bradshaw, I think he could throw the list away!!) :-)


It was such a fun day. He went up 10,000 feet in a tiny little airplane and did a tandem jump with a man named Tom (who had 1900 jumps). They had a 40 second free fall at 120 miles per hour then a five minute descent once the parachute came out for the last 5000 feet.

We had a nice picnic - all planned and prepared by the girls - with sandwiches, chips, pickles and peppers, apples and caramel dip and ended it with homemade birthday cake.

You couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!!!

I love you sweetie, Happy Birthday!!!



PS. Sorry for the crocked picture, I got a new scanner from my new friend Nikki and I am still trying to figure it all out. It's great Nikki!!!! :-)