Letterboxing even in the cold

This is Laura Joan and myself with my dear friend Chastity's son Alex. Alex is 4 and in Awana's with Laura Joan. Chastity is a letterboxing pro. She has taught me how to carve my own stamps. On this day Chastity had made me a beautiful new signature stamp - Heart Flower. It is roses in the shape of a heart and it really is a beautifully carved stamp. I had to find the stamp from her clues she posted on Atlas Quest and then replace it with a stamp I carved called "Frontier Dude".


Laura Joan has truly becoming my letterboxing buddy. She is such a good trooper about hiking around looking out for clues. She loves to stamp in with her pretty stamp that Chasity and I carved together. On this cold fall day (the day after Thanksgiving) Laura Joan and I went out by ourselves. We found a rhino stamp in a beautiful area right on the water. I would have never found this geogeous area had it not been for letterboxing. After we found the stamp we proceeded on the trail and for a short time I thought we were lost! Not to worry with my great tracking skills I stayed on the trail and found our way back out.

Joe-Joe Choir Sings

This was a family picture Carol took at our newphew Joe-joe's Choir singing at Maryville College. Unfortunetly it is blurry on Laura Joan's face.


This is Joe-Joe and Uncle Joe and Aunt Carol at Maryville College after Joe-Joe sang in the Powell High School choir. They were very good.

Letterboxing Adventures

Laura Joan and I went Letterboxing today on part of the Alcoa Trail. Laura Joan Loves to pick flowers as we go, sometimes she has a whole boqouet.




These were three boxes we found last Saturday. Letterboxes are always in neat places that are fun and educational to learn about. My favorite spot this trip was this walking bridge. It is one of only two walking bridges left in Townsend. The bridge is a little scary to walk across but we did it and found are prize ( a beautiful hand carved stamp). It is absolutely beautiful here right now as the leaves change colors. We enjoyed being together and enjoyed the beauty of our God's world.

Halloween 2008

Carson was a pirate of course. This is him after acquiring his bounty.
Laura Joan was a ballarina princess. But I guess I got so busy with her I did not take her picture. This is her dressed up as a flapper.

Playing Dress Up

Our little Dorothy's with matching red shoes. Aren't they precious! I found the red shoes at a consignment sale almost as soon as I got there. Then I happened upon this blue dress at the same consignment sale. Later that day or the very next day here comes our little neighbor in this Dorothy outfit her grandmother had made her. I could not believe it because these two girls have become almost inseparable. Laura Joan wakes up from her nap saying, "I go to Jaden's?"

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!"
Can you hear them rockin out on the pretend radio in their convertible? They are 3 and 4 years old, can you image when they really are teenagers. Look out world here we come!

Ok yes, I can be the demure princess too. Many Thanks go out to Alison and Samantha Fields for giving us so many great dress up clothes. Laura Joan and Carson both love them all.

I thought He actually made quite a pretty princess too. He got a spiderman costume too from another friend "Thank You Ryan". He liked that one so much that before going to see Samantha he had to put it on. Carson said, "he wanted Samantha to see him with muscles." I thought I had a picture of it too but could not find one so I guess I need to go take it. May ya'll enjoy your family and friends this summer and feel our Lord Jesus's blessings poured out upon you.

Letterboxing Fun in July 2008

These first 3 pictures are the kids and I letterboxing in Tennessee. Carson and I had fun. The hike was a little long for Laura Joan and here she does not want Carson to get away from her or get something before her. It is always an adventure letterboxing and Carson is very good at figuring out the clues. On this one I even had to use my compass. I know you are all impressed!


Here we are in Atlanta Georgia, visiting our friends the Fields. Alison figured out where the path was for the first box and Triston found the next major clue first on the next one. Everybody's favorite part is stamping in of course. We all had fun and enjoyed a little exercise while visiting friends. I truly do love letterboxing.

Happy Birthday Nicholas

This is Nicholas and his daddy Scott. Nicholas turned 1 year old today. They had a wonderful party with a face painting clown and even a pony. We had such a good time. Scott, Mary, Jaden and Nicholas are becoming very good friends. We are so blessed to have such great neighbors.

Our 2008 4th of July Boating Fun

Scott, Nicholas and Jaden. Our wonderful new neigbors out on the boat with us for the 4th of July. We had a great time.

Laura Joan and Carson were both brave enough to ski on the boogie board with Mr. Scott. We were amazed at Laura Joan, she loved it and was smiling from ear to ear.



Mary is holding Laura Joan. Laura Joan wakes up wanting to go over to Jaden's. They have become best friends and Jaden is so good for Laura Joan.
We all just love being out on the boat. We would go every weekend if we could.

2008 Fireworks Celebration in Alcoa

These are some new friends from our church. Jennifer, Rob and Ryan Millsaps. We met up with them at Freedom Fest and watch the fireworks together. Jennifer sings with Chris in the choir and she is even an Alto. Rob is in one of the mens ministry groups with Chris. Ryan is in between Laura Joan and Carson's age. We feel very blessed to call them friends and love to hang out with them.
The fireworks were very late for our kids but we all survived. We had to run to the church before the fireworks started to get out of the rain and thunderstorm. So after a full day at freedom fest we then spent the evening eating hot dogs and playing in the church gym until the fireworks started about 9:30. Laura Joan did want her ears covered like Carson used too, but she did enjoy seeing them and even ooed and ahhed with Mommy.

Alcoa's 2008 Freedom Fest

Our kids are so small they don't even reach the top of the tires and Laura Joan can fit inside the middle of the tire. There were so many fun things to do and see at the Freedom Festival. They had lots of blow up things for the kids and even a little train to ride on.
This is the water balloon toss. There was an opposing team at the other end shooting at our team. We had a great day and it was all free. The city of Alcoa pays for everything except the food you eat. We live in such a great area, its just one more thing to praise God for.

This was at a county park splash pad in Knoxville. We really are having a great summer and we hope ya'll are too.

It's a Beautiful Day

"...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." - Romans 10:9-10

I am overjoyed to share with you that Carson confessed his sinful nature and asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior this morning! He knelt on the hearth and prayed, without prompting, "Dear Lord, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart." Then, for emphasis, he added, "And I really mean it. Amen." What a day of rejoicing this is! Thanks to all of you who have helped show Carson the way to Christ.

This is our son, in whom we are well pleased...

- Chris and Evelyn (Catch the egg thing - born again?)

P.S. By the way, after doing this, he asked mom, "Have you invited Jesus into your heart?". His first act was to evangelize - just like Andrew.

Vacation Bible School - Power Lab

We had a great time at First Baptist Alcoa's Power Lab this year. We learned that "Jesus gives us the power to...." be thankful, help others, be brave and live forever!
It was awesome for the kids and a lot of fun for me too. We hope ya'll have a great summer too.

Letterboxing on the Greenway

We found two letter boxes on the Greenway. The area is so beautiful , you can walk or bike for miles.This letterbox is called "Feeling Tropical" and the area sure felt that way. They gave great clues, this 3 point post was one of them. To learn more about letterboxing in your area go to www.atlasquest.com and www.letterboxing.org


Carson is writing in his letterbox notebook, after stamping it, like I do for the first time.Laura Joan loves to play outside.




Carson found a stick that was much bigger than he is. Of course he has to play strong man warrior.





This is the first letterbox we found on the Greenway. It is called "Tennesse Inventions" I had to solve a two letter type of crossword puzzle. I felt very proud of myself because I solved it without Chris (my smarter half). We are only showing you a picture of the pouch the stamp is stored in not the stamp itself. If you want to see the stamps you have to come visit me to see my logbook. To date I have found 15 traditional letterboxes and 3 virtual boxes. I now have a ribbon next to my name on Atlas Quest. Carson and I are known as Heart Flower and C Tiger.