We Were Just KIDS! My Love Story

A Day Late & A DOLLAR Short… that’s the story of my life! Hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day. I was gone over the weekend to my class with my friend Diane Cook. I will share about that later this week but, I missed doing the post for Karen’s My LOVE STORY Event. You were to share your love story with others & I really wanted to do this. So, I’m late by a day Karen but, here’s the story…

I met my sweet Hubby when I was sixteen years old. I grew up in a household where I adored my precious Daddy(who was gone a lot for work) but, had a very “DIFFICULT” (I’m being very nice here) Mother. I was very unhappy at home & when I met that 20 year old, handsome fellow at the Pal’s Drive In (one of those old time hamburger places with car hops… oh my I am dating myself) I was intrigued. He was driving his metallic blue convertible Mustang & I thought he was pretty cute. After a bit of a conversation I found out he was in the Army & just back from Vietnam. I was out with my friend & her boyfriend (the two guys had gone to school together & her boyfriend is the one who introduced us) & we were supposed to be at a party somewhere else later that night. We said goodbye & I thought that would be the last of the handsome soldier.

NO! The next day he rang my doorbell. We sat out in my front yard in his “COOL” mustang & talked for hours. The letters began that week. He could only come home on weekends because he was still in active duty. The summer crept by & the weekend visits continued.

The very first date we went on he said to me “I’m going to marry you” & I thought he was the silliest boy I had ever met. By Fall I had began to think that maybe he was right. We did get married much to my parents chagrin & I moved off to be with him to finish his stint in the Army. We lived off post in a mobile home on the side of a rock hill in the central hill country of Texas. BOY DID I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN!!!! But, you know what… we grew up together. We made our way. We returned home the following Fall & I returned to finish my senior year in High School. Yes, with a husband & new baby I went back to school. He had to sign my report cards, call in if I was going to be absent… the whole nine yards. Easy? NO! But, again… we learned & grew together.

Forty years later… we’re still learning & growing & I wouldn’t change a thing. He is the kindest, most generous, sweet soul I know & I was a lucky girl to find him! And inside… I sometimes think we are still that 16 year old girl & 20 year old boy just looking for an adventure. How blessed am I? Thank you honey!!!! I’m looking forward to the next forty years!

HERE.

HUGS! Charlene

8 Things You Might Not Know

Last week my sweet friend Cindy from Lilly’s Lace gave me the Stylish Blogger Award. THANK YOU sweetie! I don’t usually “Do Award"s” or participate in this sort of thing because you are supposed to choose 8 people to pass the award to. I CAN’T or WON’T choose just 8 of my precious friends sooooooooooo…. I choose all of you! In accepting the award you are also supposed to revel 8 things that many people don’t know about you. Opening up to the world is kind of unnerving isn’t it? But, here in Blogland I have so many friends & think that something like this would help us get to know each other better. Sooooooooooooo here goes my 8 things & I challenge you to pass this on to anyone you want to share it with. IF you take up this challenge please let me know you are playing along because I would LOVE to come & read your answers.

#1 I married my Sweet Hubby when I was just 16 years old. And I feel like I have been blessed to GROW UP with my best friend by my side. Yes, I know that photo is about 3 years old & my hair is a different color & short now but, we don’t have any current photo’s of us & I LOVED these so…..

#2 I always wanted a daughter.

God had other plans….

I had 2 boys! But, I think GOD was wise. Since having my boys I have seen many little girls that while cute when young… I think I might have killed while going through the teenage years. Hubby say’s that since I am the only girl “You can be the only princess & be really spoiled”. I think I like his thinking.

#3 I wanted granddaughters.

Again, God had other plans. All 5 are BOYS! But, oh what fun they are. We rough house, build “forts'” in the living room & I have taught them all sorts of boy things like when you are wet from the slip-n-slide… pee on the fence. Of course they all adore this & want to do this event even when they aren’t wet. IT’s A BOY THING & it drives their mother’s crazy! Hee Hee! My favorite motto is “sugar them up & send them home”. They LOVE to come to Nonna & BopBops house. And many times there are TEARS when they have to leave.

#4 I am very tall.

At 6 feet 1 inches tall I have learned that in a group photo I will ALWAYS be in the back! Yes, that’s me back row center! Something you already know… I LOVE taveling to Art Events. And #5 This was my first big Art Event in spring of 2010. It was Petticoats & Parasols located in Savannah, Georgia & put on by the sweet Southern Belle Jenn Hayslip. Since then… I have become addicted to these events & go as often as I can. Jenn…. I’m BLAMING YOU! And YES! I plan on attending the one she is hosting this October in Ashville, N.C. The button for it is on my sidebar! Who can resist Fairy Tales & Castles?

#6 I am a Gemini. Twins! Two very different personalities. One very frilly & full of color while the other often prefers calm, neutral, soft… Never ask me what my favorite color is because the answer would have to be “Today my favorite color is_ _ _ _” (fill in the blank).

#7 I WANT TO LEARN DIGITAL ART/DESIGN! I am sooooooooo not good at this but, it is a burning desire & something I AM going to learn this year.

My friend Jill from Feather & Flight is the most AMAZING artist in this area & I have fallen head over heels in LOVE with her style & all of her work. She has promised to help me with this passionate desire to learn so I can also create beauty as she does. THANK YOU SWEET FRIEND for your sharing spirit. PLEASE go visit her (HERE) & fall in LOVE too.

Are you hooked yet?

She has just been selected to be featured in Somerset Studio Gallery Summer 2011 with this amazing piece below. Jill I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!! You deserve this!

#8 I have a serious addiction to COLLECT STUFF!!!!!!!! The most recent addiction is really an OLD one that has found a new form. BUTTONS!!!!!!!!! I LOVE BUTTONS!

From the time I was 2 years old my precious Grandmother would let me play with her button box. I would sit for hours touching, sorting, looking at all the different colors, styles & textures.

My favorite is Mother of Pearl! Really, almost anything Mother of Pearl… Lately EBay has been my favorite source for Czech Glass Buttons. Between BUTTONS & VINTAGE BLING my EBay account has been kept BUSY & my checkbook relieved of excess cash.

OK! I DID IT!!!!!!!!! Did you learn something new about me? Or did you already know all of this? What did you find the most surprising? Hope you’ll play too. Share yourself with your blogging friends. It helps to get to know each other better. Tell me 8 things about you (in your comment or on your blog). Have a great weekend!

HUGS! Charlene