Bishop Babes, my new team!!!

I still play on my 3.0 team, the net ninja's, but I recently got invited to join a 3.5 team! I'm so excited, it's my ARTL and tournament partner, Kelly's team. Most of this team has been together for 20 years and they are amazing players! This picture was taken at Kelly's baby shower a few weeks ago, I came straight there from a match. They are such a sweet, sincere, and down to earth group of ladies. They say they are a social group that plays a little tennis on the side. I love how light hearted they are and how they don't take the game or themselves too seriously. They are always gracious on the court. Good sportsmanship, I'm finding, is rare as you move up in this sport. I've been practicing with them for a few months now and have just fallen in love with them; plus, they are teaching me sooooo much. They are one of the best 3.5 teams in COTA. I'm playing on a summer combo team right now (3.0 and 3.5 players) and some of the ladies on Amy's team asked me to be on their 3.5 team this fall as well. It was hard to choose, because I love Amy, but I think this team of ladies is a good fit.

ARTL CHAMPS!!! Kelly and I just finished our ARTL season and we won all our matches!

The ARTL Hall of Fame was created to "forever recognize and remember" the past winners of the Athens Recreational Tennis League. These individuals worked hard on the court and for their season they were crowned "Champion".

Congratulations to all the ARTL Winners! Keep playing and gaining that invaluable match experience. 

7.0 Day 

Spring 1999	Meg Downs / Sharon Wong (Div. #1)
	Janet Darvill / Cindy Lane (Div. #2)
Summer 1999	Sue Williams / Claudia Skidmore (Div. #1)
	Cindy McFadden / Brenda Lord (Div. #2)
Fall 1999	Cookie Daniel / Betsy Chastain (Div. #1)
	Shari Messer / Lori Brown (Div. #2)
Summer 2000	Janet Borders / Addy Miller
Spring 2002	Janet Darvill / Addy Miller
Spring 2008	Tonya Bell / Kathy Dover
Spring 2010	Ana Gray / Hope Baldwin
Spring 2014	Lauren Satterly / Lauren Bowdler
Fall 2014	Amy Quilter / Connie Ondo
Spring 2015	Kelly Mendiola / Michele Nicholson

We decided to play 7.0 this season, since we won the 6.0 ARTL last season. We certainly didn't expect to win 7.0 because Kelly is 7 months pregnant and can't move around to well on the court like she usually does and to make it worse, we played in 90 degree heat. Plus, I'm just a 3.0 player and some of your opponents are both 3.5's. We just thought we'd go for a challenge. Somehow Kelly and I managed to pull it off.

We redid the bonus room. Drew painted it for us!

Rug, lamp, pillows, and mirrors from Walmart, curtains clearances at Bed Bath Beyond, fleur de lis sconces by armoir from Hobby Lobby... furniture moved up from keeping room.

Emma's end of the year party!

Emma couldn't go the last day of school because of her wounded foot, so I took her to the last 15 minutes of her class party to say goodbye to her friends. Her 2 best buddies, Julia Thomas and Julia Trail are in her class (They are also in PACE together, the gifted program.) All her friends signed her wrap:)

Jamison graduated from kindergarden!

Jamison is Amy Quilter's youngest. He lives across the street. He's my little buddy. I stuff him with doritoes and coke when he comes over. He always comes over and brings me little presents like flowers he picks or pictures he colors. He proudly walked in to show me his diploma!!!

Emma got some kind of infection in her foot, not sure if it was a spider bite or what???

Emma at Orthopedic ER

Shopping at Hobby Lobby

Tyler was in Brennan and Lindsey's wedding. It was on a farm in Cleveland, GA. Beautiful!

Drew and Haley couldn't go. Bride and Groom looked stunning!

Today we celebrated a baby shower for Kelly (my tennis partner for ARTL season, that is almost 7 months pregnant).

Kelly is precious and only in her 30's!!! She plays on a 3.5 team (I'm just a 3.0). This young woman is an athlete! She played softball for 20 years and is now an amazing tennis player! Kelly and her team have recently invited me to their team practices and drills. I feel honored! They are "experienced" players!!! Kelly and I are the "babies" compared to them. These women can put away a ball with a single shot and leave your head spinning! You sit at their feet and learn while they clobber you! They are amazing!!! The best part is, they are kind, spiritual, and consider themselves a "social club that plays tennis on the side"! They are a beautiful example of women who don't take themselves too seriously. They are seasoned players with perspective and balance. They are mature players with nothing to prove because they know what really matters. They value relationships over winning a point!!! They make the sport fun and childlike. I thought my childhood was over, but since I began playing tennis, I discovered how to play again. (What a gift from God to continue to reveal new seasons of joy in my life...) We are learning so much just from being on the court with these down to earth, talented, and humble women!!! 

Ellie, award's banquet!!!

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Ellie thought she was there to get an award for making the honor roll, but was surprised when they didn't call her name. She looked at me and said, "but mom, I made all A's all year!" They gave honor roll to the students that made all A's and B's throughout the year, however after that, they gave a special honor award to the students that made all A's throughout the year. That made her smile!!! Ellie also got an award in Math!!! Each teacher picks one student out of all their classes that shows the most effort and determination. Ellie's math teacher chose her. Math is her most difficult subject and her only class that was not an advanced placement class. Her scores were so well this year that her teacher asked her if she'd like to be bumped up next year to AP math. Ha, Ellie said, "No thanks, I'm fine!"