Sorry!

So, I have done a poor job recording 2009 on this blog! Sorry! I think that means I have been busy or just preoccupied! So, we are going to do some back tracking and try to catch up!

Here we go ...

January

Grant started loosing teeth again!

Can you see the one that is almost out?

Now you can see which one was ready!

Before Michael's first trip to the "hair cut" place!

After ...

Another snow shower!

February

A quick trip to Louisiana.

My Aunt Mary passed away and we went to be with family!

Michael sitting outside my parents' back door.

All of my parents' grandchildren have LOVED to ride in this car! There are MANY miles on this car (not to mention we have had several cars)! This is still one of their favorite things to do ... see if they can still ride in the coupe!

Right before we headed home from Louisiana, Grant lost his other front tooth!

Grant's 8th B'day Song!

Our sweet friend, Jackson, steals the show!

God is the Boss!

The video is fixed! No more
YouTube ...
just use blogger! :)

I overheard my younger two boys talking in the bath. Michael was telling Jack a story. When Jack got out I pulled out the video camera. I had to do a little coaxing to get the story out, Michael was a little camera shy.

I send this ... just in case anyone thinks that 3 year olds don't learn anything in their Sunday School classes!

Happy 8th Birthday, Grant!

Well, my oldest boy is now EIGHT! I can't believe it!

We celebrated with just a few boys ...

they made lego cars to race,

ate pizza, completed a treasure hunt, ate birthday cookie,

went to the "Ramares Movie Theatre," and of course had pop corn there!

Thanks to all who helped make Grant's b'day special!

Grant opening some family gifts on Saturday!

Learning to Let Go

Our family has been going through a season of death. Having friends and family who have lost dear ones, and my Dad's oldest sister passed away less than two weeks ago. It is hard to keep our proper perspective on death, but this Family Life devotion helps.

February 11

Learning to Let Go

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?Lamentations 3:38

Few of us are comfortable with death. That's understandable. Humankind, originally, wasn't designed by God to die. Death is the unnatural ripping of the soul from the body.
And yet as our journey unfolds, nearly all of us will one day be confronted with the impending death of someone dear to us. Just thinking about it feels repulsive. To those who refuse to accept anything but sweetness and light in their relationship with God, a verse like the one above doesn't seem to belong in the Bible.

Paradoxically, in His wisdom, God allowed death to become a part of life. But by denying it, by constantly exhorting terminally ill loved ones to be more positive in their thinking, there is a point where instead of helping them, we merely deny them our company on this journey at a time when they need it the most.

To approach death as though God could never have a part in it creates a major dilemma for the seriously ill. To imply that death means God is no longer in charge threatens a person's freedom to experience His peace and comfort at life's end. To never understand that "it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting" (Ecclesiastes 7:2) shows how little we understand about the promises waiting to be fulfilled for the Christian on the other side of life.
As my mom drew near to death, she kept asking me, "What do I need to do?" I said, "Mom, you don't really have anything left to do. Feel free to go home, to go on to heaven. It's okay." I was giving her permission to walk into the arms of her Savior, freeing her to embrace death.

Hard words? You bet. But God remains in control. Even in death, God is good . . . all the time.

Discuss
Discuss your thoughts, fears and questions about death.

Pray
Pray for a godly perspective on death. Some day you'll need it.

Happy 10th Birthday, Shelby!

We celebrated Shelby's birthday with her first sleep over!

Just a few girl friends at the house and we sent the boys away.

Making shirts!

Photo opportunities.

Shelby is 10!!!!!

Mrs. Betsy and Shelby!!!!

Jane and Shelby

Tori and Shelby

Emma, Shelby and Cora

The gang!

A yummy cupcake cake!

We can not believe that Shelby is 10 years old. She is growing into such a young lady! We are so thankful for this special gift that the Lord has blessed us with!

On Shelby's actual birthday, she went with her Daddy to breakfast at the Pancake Pantry. After breakfast Shelby went to work with Daddy until we met them for lunch. With a few snow flakes around we went to lunch and then John had to head to the airport.

We had a special day!

Grant is telling Daddy and Shelby bye before they head to breakfast!

Here is the gang at lunch!

2009 ... I hope to do better!

Well, for the few of you who do keep on reading ...

(I know because you complain for the lack of posts!)

I have set a goal to blog more in 2009!!!!

I am going back to my original intent: to keep family and friends updated on our life!

Mostly for grandparents, family, friends far away and even friends near by

(because we all know we don't get to see each other often enough!).

The way I plan to get this done is to blog when John travels.

So, you should get two or three posts a month, and when I get behind -

ask - maybe we are being blessed with a light travel month

- OR -

maybe I went with him! :)
Happy New Year, a little late!

Michael - Away in a Manger

Here's Michael's new song that was learned at CBS.

Michael's 1st Bible Verse

Praying for Friends

On Sunday I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a memorial service for baby Audrey Caroline Smith. What a testimony of God's grace lavished on his children as the Smiths have lived through these difficult circumstances these recent months.
If you have a chance, read the letter Audrey's mom wrote on her blog! Click the link above on her name.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, I am still behind, but on blogging, but I want to share this special Valentine! Enjoy!

Shelby is published! LOL!

2008 already!?!?!?

Well, as you can see I am REALLY behind on blogging! You would think I don't like it by the amount of posts that I have entered recently, but that isn't the case! I have mismanaged my free time some, but mostly I am preoccupied with my life. I am really trying to be a good mommy and an excellent wife. Of course I fail (daily, hourly, ugh ... and more frequently), but I thankfully know the Lord is changing me to be more like Christ as I go through each day!
Even though I am already behind on my "list of things to do this year," I am going to start trying to keep a better account of our lives on our blog! I love to see the progress, so here is goes ...

hum ... how many days will it take me to post?

A Bit of Mommy Wisdom (or Stupidity)

For you laugh of the week! :)

Moms, don't get distracted when you are cutting your son's hair ...

but Dads can take them to ProCuts and make it look like this!

Fall Family Cub Scout Camp Out

Our great weekend!

Preview to Camp Out ...

Cub Scout Family Camp Out Preview

A few pictures from our weekend ... from the whole PACK!


Find more photos like this on Scout Pack 747

Shelby Horseback Riding

Mr. Paul spent some time teaching Shelby some new things about horses today.
Shelby had a GREAT time!

In the country!

John's Company's Family Picnic

A Night at the Races

Visit with Gramps - Woody Smith

New Adventure - Cub Scouts

Cub Scouts! Yep, John and Grant started on a new Daddy and son adventure last night ... Cub Scouts! We have dear friends that were involved for the first year last year in a Dad led pack. We are excited to carve out this time for John and Grant to have some quality time learning valuable skills to mold Grant into a godly young man. Look at their website to learn more about Pack 747!

We went to round-up night last night! Here are a few pictures!

Grant and some of the others are listening to what they have in store for the year! At this time their will be eight Tiger Cubs in Grant's den.

Grant is wearing part of his new scout uniform! Thank the Lord for hand-me-downs.

Grant and John - this is going to be fun!