What a Week We Had In Pigeon Forge

Beth and I got to spend the week together last week in beautiful and hot Pigeon Forge, Tn.  Beth was fortunate enough to be able to play at a World Series Softball Tournament with her team, Southern Shock.

This week was amazing watching some awesome athletes playing ball.  These girls are tough to the core.  They hung with the 100 heat on red dirt like nobody's business.  Could I have done it...I doubt it.

They played great and got 9th place out of 36 teams.  Not bad, in my opinion. Actually, great, in my opinion.   I think Southern Shock ROCKS!  I think Beth rocks!!!

Beth had a great week at bat.  She had a stand up triple, stand up double and other great hits.  Love to watch her bat.

Beth is one of the catchers on the team and does a great job but is new to this position.

This is Beth's first time to play with this team so she will tell you that she is at the bottom of the totem pole.  She doesn't care though, she says she will work her way up.  She loves the challenge.

Notice Beth's hand touching her helmet.  This is what she does everytime she gets up to bat.  On the photo below, you can see Phil. 4:13 on her helmet.  She knows that she can do all things through Christ.

Somebody asked her one time who Phil was.  What a great opportunity to share Christ with that one question.

This girl can run.  Goodness...who does she get that from?

This is what Beth and all the other girls did when they weren't playing.

  Of course, she had her UT pillow and blanket with her.

Okay, be forewarned that the next picture is nasty but I had to document it because this is one of the best parts to Beth.  She loves her some war wounds...

Sorry, I know it's gross and this is actually a small one for her.  YUK!

Have I told you that Beth says it doesn't get any better than red dirt mixed with peppermint chewing gum?

That's my girl...actually, that's her daddy's girl.  I don't like dirt and gum mixed together.  And the only strawberries I want are the red ones in my tummy.

Beth said at the end of the tournament that this was one of the best weeks of her whole life.  I am so thrilled that she enjoyed it that much.  I know that mom sure had a blast being there with her, sitting out in the heat and watching her play some awesome softball.   

Sweet memories. 

Friends Forever

I love forever friends.  You know them.  Those friends that you know will be with you until Jesus comes.  The ones who are sticky.  They will stick with you through all things; big, small, ugly, and pretty.

My family got to spend the weekend with some of our forever friends and, as always, it was awesome.  They are actually more than friends, they are our family.  Mary is my sister even if not by blood.

The whole family. 

Shad is a minister in Georgia but they came into town to do a wedding. 

Me and Mary...

To add to the story a little...

Before Mary moved to Georgia, there were several of us ladies who went to church together and were "doing life together".  We were all very tight.  Several of us still go to church together but several have moved elsewhere.  We are all still very close friends though.  Kindred spirits...know what I mean?

Two of those ladies that I am still very close friends with are Daffney and Veronica.  They are also forever friends.  I love when we can all get back together. 

Meet three of my very best friends in the whole wide world..  Okay, you already met Mary on the right but you haven't met Veronica and Daffney yet.  I hate to exclude my precious other friends, but they don't go to church with us so I wasn't able to get their pictures.  Hopefully next time we can all get together.

Enjoyed sharing my friends with you today.  I promise you would love them as much as I do.

Farewell Big D

We sadly say goodbye to our favorite, enormously huge rooster, Big D, who died very unexpectedly last week.  One minute he was eating happily and loving on (terrorizing) all of my hens, and the next minute he was gone...dead...on his back with his legs straight up in the air.  For real, within a thirty minute period of time, he was gone.  It was pretty crazy.

We really are sad to see him go because he was sort of a novelty at our home.  He was so much bigger than all of the rest of our chickens and our other rooster.  I think his size is what finally did him in.  Just my thought, though.

Funny thing was that as soon as he died, Boots, our smaller rooster, began crowing very stong and loud.  He knew that his new role had begun.  He is now the top rooster; the only rooster.

Maybe my sweet hens will be able to grow their feathers back now...Just sayin....

Drive-In Tradition

I love summer for lots of reasons.  One of those reasons includes my family, lawn chairs, and drive-in movies.

Toy Story was our choice of movies this time and it was a great choice. 

What a fun, sweet and even tear jerker movie.  Yes, I cried and cried and cried more at the end.  You just have to trust me that this movie was so sad at the end.  Sad in a sweet way.  Go see it and you'll see what I mean.

This is what we look like when we go to the movies. 

Keith brings speakers from home and sets them up outside the van.  He always has the media under control for us.

Take a look at Faith during Toy Story...

And now check her out when Prince of Persia came on...

Can you tell that this movie didn't hold her interest very well?

And, yes, we made sure she was safe even though she was laying in the parking lot of the drive-in theater sound asleep.  Boy, kids and men can sleep anywhere, can't they?

If there were more family friendly movies, we would be there more often.  Drive-ins are cheaper than the regular theater and, to us, they are much more fun.

If you lived closer, we would ask you to join us with your lawn chairs and blankets and you could experience all the fun that we get to have.

Happy Birthday to a Very Special Person

I don't know when you will see this but I (Keith) wanted to be the first to wish you a Happy Birthday before anyone else does. :D

SO...





and we are VERY VERY glad that you dont look like him!





We all love you very much and hope you have a fun and relaxing day.

Love Keith, Beth, and Faith (Especially Keith) ;)

Trophies and Good Byes

My girls had closing softball ceremonies this past weekend. 

 It was hot but it's always fun to see your kids be awarded for their accomplishments and hard work.

This was Beth's last year playing recreational league softball.  She has played for, I think, nine years.  Wow!  I can't believe she is at the age now where she can't play in this league anymore.  The time has flown.

She will now move on to playing travel softball and is so excited.  This is a really big thing for her as she is hoping to pursue college softball.  Our summer will consist of lots of weekend tournaments.  Can't wait!!

Now, Faith takes up where Beth left off. 

 This was Faith's second year to play and hopefuly will continue for lots more years.  She seems to enjoy it, but maybe not quite as much as Beth.  Of course, Beth is a different kind of kid.  She totally LOVES all sports and anything about sports.  She loves the dirt in her mouth mixed with her chewing gum. She loves the strawberries she gets sliding into home plate.  She loves it all.

Faith is a little more of a girly girl.  She likes sports but she also likes major dress up time with all the bling and frills.

This is how Faith loves to be.

Beth and Faith both got participating trophies and also both made the all star teams for their age groups.

Beth also got the Best Sportsmanship Award for her age group.

Faith got first runner up for the same award, but no trophy. 

As parents, we were thrilled that both of our girls got recognized for their good attitudes.  We prayed before every game that the girls would play their games "as unto Him". 

Faith receiving her trophy.

I love this picture because Beth had to go up three times to receive her awards.  I love the look on her face.

Can you tell that I am proud of my kiddos?  Let me explain "pride" here...

I am proud of the gifts and abilities that they have gotten from God and how they are using them.  I believe that all three of my children are seeking to live for the Lord and be like Him in all that they do.  I believe their character is Christ like and I am so thankful for that.  I love that they are recognized for being "different", for saying yes maam and no sir.  I love that they pick their opponents up off the base if they fall.  I love that they smile even if they lose.  I love hearing their words of encouragment to their teammates and seeing the pats on the backs.  That's what I am proud and thankful for.

I have to put Keith in here, also. 

 Keith doesn't particularly enjoy playing sports, therefore I have no trophy pictures of him.  BUT, let me tell you what.  If there was a trophy for the best son in the world...for the son who would give you the shirt off his back...for the son that is so unselfish (especially when it comes to his mama)...then that trophy would go to Keith Thomas Kinser.

Keith's gifts and abilities lie with most anything that has to do with electronics.  He is just like his daddy and loves computers.  I call them my computer nerds. (in a very loving cool kind of way, of course)  He is fascinated by weather and would be a great meteorologist or storm chaser.  He is also a great cheerleader of his sisters.  He may not play ball like them, but he sure likes to cheer them on when they are playing.

So, our ball playing continues...

Traveling we will be...

Sweating we will be...

Smiling and cheering we will be...

Making more memories we will be...

Beach Time Again...

Another vacation has come and gone. 

We just spent eleven wonderful days at the beach with our family, Donnie's parents, and his twin brother and his family. 

Days filled with sunshine, seafood, ocean waves, hot tubs, and swimming pools are what I long for over the winter months. 

It was a wonderful week that went by way too fast.  Isn't that the way it always goes?

I will share more pictures later, but for now, just want to show you who we spent the week with.

My sweet family in our swimming pool best.

My in laws with their boys and all the grandkids.

These kiddos have a blast being together.

I couldn't leave out my sis in law who was in none of the other photos.  She is my sister in law and my friend.

Are you like me and get so overwhelmed with all of the stuff to do when you get back home?

I get spoiled on vacation. 

Back to reality...