The Smithson family thinks to a different beat on a few things. One being how the Christmas story is told. Steven and myself love the traditions of the Nativity story but much of the story is just that– traditions that ADD too Scripture. We personally own three Nativity sets. Steven loves to dote on the fact that they are ALL far from realistic. I must admit we have gotten into a few light-hearted “arguments” over how we want the story told to our children. Steven’s version– facts only. Mine– build the basics and then reveal the trivia later. I mean you don’t have to tell them Jesus wasn’t born in a stable when they are two!!!
Regardless, have you been able to do your research this year?? Do I have you totally bewildered by what I’m talking about??? Well here’s a little clip we loved so much we showed to the youth department this morning. Igniter Media did a great job in capturing both truth and the real meaning of Christmas in this little diddy… Enjoy!
You know you’re a mom when you look at having surgery as a vacation!!! Sad huh! Well just so you know the vacation ended this morning. Monica must have crawled up in the bed with me because when I opened my eyes she was curled up behind me jabbering away. She held up a diaper as though she wanted me to change her. I was awake enough to realize Steven wasn’t in bed so of course as the good responsible mommy– NOT!— said go ask your daddy! Apparently that would not suit her for she threw a fit and landed the diaper right in my face. I was glad she did for little did I know that when I rolled over I would find an already diaperless child with poo smeared ALL OVER my sheets! EWE! I’ll spare you the rest of the details and just let you know we got her cleaned up. Read the rest of this entry »
Being away from the blog a few days has been a new experience. I find myself anxious to sit down and catch up and yet not exactly sure how to start. I’m afraid I cannot accomplish a review of the week without being “listy.” So instead trying to be creative and putting off catching up I’m just going to have to be “listy”. Here’s an embarrassingly long day by day of our 7 day trip. I PROMISE to never write a post this lengthy again…. Read the rest of this entry »
Our printer died a while back and we’ve been putting off getting one for awhile. Yesterday was the day. I, Stephanie, for the first time in my life scanned a picture on our new printer/copier/scanner. Yep that’s right I took my index finger and “pushed” the little button that says “scan”and…….. Voila a picture!!! I realize this is nothing to get excited about and that I’m very much behind the times. Regardless, it’s good to know I have capability of such things. Here are the wished for wedding pics from my anniversary post.
I’ve decided to try and conquer the neglected photos from the past 5 years. Organizing and filing memories from that many years is quite a job, but I know if I keep putting it off the pile is only going to grow bigger. I must confess my rummaging has brought back a TON of memories. Read the rest of this entry »
Soooooo I’ve been carrying around wedding pics to scan. I wanted to post them on the blog BUT I don’t think it’s going to happen. Sorry… We had a great day together! Here’s a couple of picks the baby sitter took before we left.
June 30, 2008 at 7:02 am
· Filed under Marital Bliss
Okay so last night was the highlight of my week! We went to a great sixteenth b-day party down on the river. It was held at a location that has a 1939 ferris wheel and beautiful old carousel. The parents has rented the location so we could ride the rides over and again. SUCH a retro and gorgeous spot!!!
After our kidos had ridden everything several times, I looked at Steven and asked, “Would you make one of my life-long dreams come true?” It was so exciting that he knew EXACTLY what I was talking about without me telling him. YAY for him!!! So without further ado, the kids stayed with friends and we loaded up on the ferris wheel. Up! Up! Up!! Yep you guessed it– we kissed right on the very top!!! ooooo butterflies just thinking about it!
Actually it was very sweet BUT the “dream” was a bit distorted because we had kids from our youth group on both sides of us going, “Yuck Smitty!! Come One!! Please Oh Please none of that!!!” sigh… If it’s not Eli and Monica it’s the rest of our kids.
Thursday morning our family picked up and headed off to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a few days to get away before summer youth ministry craziness is in full swing. We didn’t go very, far but we had a great time!! While we were gone we shopped, ate way too much, went “zooing”, watched Prince Caspian (it was definitely as good as the first Narnia), and just hung out at the “hill-tell” pool, as Eli called it.
We tried two GREAT restaurants that have been recommended to us for a long time.
1. Ted’s Mexican restaurant
2. P.F. Changs
Both restaurants were everything others had cracked them up to be. Thankfully our kids liked them too! Thanks to ALL of you have talked of Changs– yes the Mongolian Beef and Chang’s Chicken were fabulously Yum-MYYYY!!!
One thing of interest was that the very nice lady voice in Steven’s GPS and I did not hit it off very well. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s 9:00 pm on Wednesday evening. Our carpets are getting re stretched in the morning and I had planned on shampooing them tomorrow afternoon myself.
However…. I JUST found out that the entire youth group is invited to our house tomorrow night!!! Steven and I had talked about starting an “Office” party and have kind of an open house every Thursday when it comes on. Mind you we had talked about it. I thought it was starting next fall or something… Nope guess not- it was announced Sunday in class and then tonight at the youth service! (I must have stepped out during announcements). I got the memo at 9:00 tonight. YAY!!!
I’m rejoicing that I found out today I guess, and not tomorrow afternoon. So hey– if any of you are up for hot dogs and some hard core watching of “The Office” come on over! We’ll have a crowd and it’ll be good to see you- my carpets will at least be clean. =)
My husband is the greatest!! (sarcastic smile inserted)… My husband IS the GREATEST!! (all sincerity added too) He loves people like I do so it makes it all good!
Yesterday Steven had the privilege of leading a group of teens on a storm clean up mission for the widows in our church.
He came home “smitten.” One of the widows he assured me I would fall in love with too because of her spunk. Her story reminded me a little bit of the movie the Notebook minus the Alzheimer’s. She shared that her love story began years ago, but she and her husband didn’t really begin to “live” until he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when she was 60 years old. Upon receiving the grave diagnosis, they immediately scheduled a trip to Hawai “yah” (she has a bit of a southern drawl). They promised to themselves to go every year until they couldn’t go any more. She and her love went 23 years straight!!! That’s right she’s 83 and it will be the FIRST year she hasn’t gone to Hawaii in a LONG time!- so much for the death warning… Reflecting with a grin she confessed her husband wouldn’t let her take surfin’ lessons like she wanted!
Her husband passed away this year. However, she’s left with albums filled with memories of past suntans and luaus with her sweet heart. She’s still so in love with her one and only!! PRECIOUS!- As she was finishing her stories she remarked, “I don’t know if I’ll go to Hawai”yah” again but I’m sure hoping Heaven’s pretty close! =)
I think I could learn alot from her outlook– we’re hoping to make a trip to visit this marvelous lady soon.
