third try!

Okay, so this is the third time in the last week that I've tried to blog. Both of my other attempts have been erased!! Annoying, but that's life. So here's my second attempt to brag about my children! I've always been hesitant to obnoxiously brag on my kids because I've never wanted to sound like I think they're perfect or that I've got it all down in the parenting thing! But I think any of you who really know me or who have read much of what I've written know that I'm not living in some dream world about perfect children, so I will now take the liberty to be a little obnoxious for a minute (this is really boasting in the Lord anyway!). Yesterday it was parent/teacher conference day at our kids' school and so we got to go in and get a progress report on how they're doing so far. It blew me away again. True, they are all getting straight A's (due to the fact that they inherited their dad's brains), but that was not what humbled me to my knees. The reports about their behavior and just about who they are brought so much glory to God and honor to us as their parents. And I just wanted to cry because I know about me and my very flawed mothering - the beauty of how God is shaping them is SO about His grace and so NOT about how we're doing it all right (I'm reminded hourly of how I'm NOT)! God is good! Here is what the teachers wrote about each of them:
Luke: "Luke is a delight to have in class. His fun sense of humor and his constant smile are a great addition to our class. Luke is a good listener, who seems to enjoy learning and participating in class. At times, he needs to be redirected in his excitement, but for the most part he seeks to do his best. I know God has big plans for Luke! He reads fluently and with great expression. He seems to have a solid level of comprehension in his reading, as well. I can tell that he has been exposed to a variety of reading experiences. Having this great foundation of reading will be an asset for him now and in the future. Socially, Luke is a friend to all his classmates and is liked by them. I appreciate that he is well-behaved and obedient during class. He treats others with kindness and respect. Luke is an encourager to all those around him."
His teacher just didn't have anything negative to say about him! Randy did ask if does cartwheels in class and she assured us that she has seen no cartwheels (this is good because we rarely actually see the boy sitting on his bottom at home - in fact, today when he got in the car, it wasn't long before he was actually doing a head stand in his seat while we waited for his older siblings).
Josiah: "Josiah is a wonderful example of a child growing in his faith. He recognizes the importance of putting Christ as the center of his life. God has truly blessed him with a wonderful mind. He is a fluid and expressive reader, and he comprehends most of what he reads. Josiah has excelled at all his academic endeavors so far this year. He gets along very well with all his classmates. He is respectful of adults and takes correction well. He is a valuable addition to our class, and I appreciate you sharing him with me this year." She also had no areas of improvement to recommend for him (okay, I warned you that this whole thing was obnoxious!)

McKenna: Her teacher actually did an acrostic with her name! ha! Here it is:
Meek, mighty
Compassionate
Kind, gentle heart
Elevates Christ Jesus
Never defeated
Near to the heart of God
Attentive to others
Her teacher shared a super encouraging story about her sweet loyalty. She said that one day several of the girls in her class were standing around saying negative things about their younger sisters. Honestly, McKenna could have joined right in that conversation if she had wanted to! :) (If you could have seen how Moriah was treating her yesterday a.m., you'd know exactly what I mean!). Anyway, instead of comparing notes, she looked at her teacher and said, "I love my sister." Sweet McKenna.

Well, I have SO much to write about - predominantly concerning this book I'm reading called Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains...BUT my husband is telling me that I need to be planning what I'm going to say on Thursday p.m. when we teach at Christ Fellowship's CORE training school. If most of you only KNEW how INCREDIBLY hilarious it is that I am going to be speaking at training school....now THAT's a story that gives God LOTS of glory! And I mean a LOT! More on that later and on hospitality and the poor, etc.! And I'll try to throw in a few pics to liven things up as well!
bye for now!

my boys

Aside from being a really wimpy teether (big top tooth number two is now in, praise the Lord), this baby is just full of joy almost all of the time! (his joy tends to wane when his 2-year-old brother is on top of him or if he's not getting food into his fat belly fast enough!)

I just had to take this pic of these guys yesterday after their haircuts - such a picture of their very different personalities. Luke always wants the spikes as high as he can get them with LOTS of gel and Josiah NEVER wants gel or spikes. Luke is Mr. Sensitive (about his own pain, but for that of others as well :)) and Josiah is all about logic. In fact, if you want to see this guy REALLY stressed out then ask him to do some creative writing project. He is SO left-brained, it's scary - I really can't relate. So my older three have it worked out pretty well: McKenna is my melancholy, dramatic, can-write-a-story-or-a-song-at-the-drop-of-hat girl, Josiah helps her out with all that math and looks at her in bewilderment wondering why she cries so much about various traumas in her life (they seem to be increasing these days!), while Luke just helps everyone feel a little more passionately about everything! I love how God has knitted this family together. He knows exactly what we need! :)

The simple gospel?

Have you ever tried to write a gospel tract? You know, the ones, that people give out on street corners and leave with their tips at restaurants? I've never been a big fan of them myself, but I'm actually trying to write one. You might think it a bit presumptuous of me to think that I can improve on the works of those who have spent years working to simplify and perfect the message to fit it in a pocket sized booklet. It is actually quite humbling. How do you take the infinite riches of Christ, the glory of the cross, and the beauty of God's amazing grace and summarize it in a few sentences. What is really important? What exactly should I tell a person to do to "get saved?"The only reason I'm writing a tract is because I haven't found one that says what I want to say in simple language. I was at church a few weeks ago listening to a great sermon. Early into it I thought, "I wonder how many words are not being understood by the boys who are sitting beside me." I started writing down the words I thought they might not be grasping. It was a simple, straightforward sermon, and I still wrote down about 40-50 words. As I was taking the boys home I went through about 15 of the words on my list just to see if I was right. They correctly knew only one of the 15.So that's why I'm writing a tract. I'm going to be part of an outreach at Como Elementary School at which we expect about 2000 people. We are having them walk out through a tent where a team of us will be there ready to tell them about Jesus. Truthfully, most of them will know more Bible than many of us do, but I pray that there will be some who have been touched by the love of Jesus and are ready to enter into new life with Him.So I pray that God will guide me to be able to clearly put into words what He invites them to and how they can accept his invitation. Please pray for me, and for them.

I'm still alive!

Okay, here I am. I just haven't felt like I had anything brilliant to write about and so the lull in our blog. And really. Who can top my husband's poetry and creative culinary creations? :)

I went to Canton last weekend for a break at a scrapbooking bed and breakfast. It was SO wonderful to be able to sleep when I felt like it and eat food that someone else had cooked and NOT have to clean up anything but my own little mess for a couple of days. If I wasn't such an incredible hormonal mess at the moment, it would have been perfect! I know, none of you want all the details and I'm actually not going to give them, but let's just say that I've been sad, weepy, and feeling sort of physically YUCKY for about two weeks now! Clearly, it's my hormones trying to get back on some sort of schedule, but it is just plain crummy. Randy just gives me lots of hugs. He's so sweet. I've just got to say that we're reading Leviticus right now as a family (we just started in Genesis, okay? we couldn't just SKIP Leviticus...although we have asked the kids to skip a few explicit chapters. it's not that we wouldn't go there with them if they needed to know why you can't sleep with your brother's wife - it's just a lot of questions to answer at breakfast in the morning. :)). ANYWAY! We're reading through Leviticus and I was noticing that women had to just be alone in their tents during their periods. It just hit me this week that this was for the sake of EVERYONE! She got a break and no one had to deal with her MOODS! God SO knew what He was doing and I personally think that perhaps this is one aspect of Jewish law we should revisit. :)

Back to scrapbooking. I feel like I always struggle with whether or not scrapbooking is a legitimate way to spend my time. I haven't done it in a year, but I always want to. But all my doubts were erased when I came home with Isaac's baby book (up until last weekend, he had NO scrapbook - poor little guy) and he asked with LOUD glee if he could see his "scwapbook!" That sweet boy has looked at his book about 25 times since I got home on Sunday night. A totally legitimate way to spend my time.

I have some thoughts about the mercy of God and about being a helper to my husband, but I think I'll wait until night when I don't have to feel guilty about neglecting my babies! :)

blessings!

Macarrocos

While Anda was out of town this weekend the kids and I made a new invention. We mixed macarroni and taco meat in a warm flour tortilla, and called it Tacorroni! Or is it Macarrocos? The kids really enjoyed them, but we're glad Anda is back.

Eureka!

I found it! The poem of the future is here now. I'm not sure how I could have missed it, but I spent an entire 20 grades in school and never heard of this poetic structure. Thankfully, my daughter, who is receiving a "classical" education, has already surpassed my poetic fund of knowledge. (or is it fund of poetic knowledge?) Anyway, this week she brought home from school some information about cinquains. That's right, cinquains. I'll bet you've never heard of one, have you? Well, I hadn't either. That's what makes me pretty sure they must be a new invention, because I scoured the poetic world in search of the perfect poem, and these never crossed my path. Perhaps they evolved out of the recent political debates. There's always lots of good stuff in those debates that just sort of flies right by the unengaged listener.

Anyway, this poem is pretty cool. I'm sure you'll all want to try one. It goes like this:
Line 1: Two syllables (the subject of the verse)
Line 2: Four syllables describing the subject (adjectives)
Line 3: Six syllables showing action
Line 4: Eight syllables expressing feeling or observation about the subject
Line 5: Two syllables describing or renaming the subject

OK, now that we know how to write one I'm going to go ahead an try one out. I think I will write about my favorite person:

Anda
Butterfly queen
Fluttering gracefully
Vision of beauty and glory
Stunning

Well, I don't expect you to do as well as I have on your first try (since I've been doing haikus for so long and you haven't), but once you get the hang of it, I'm sure you'll be a star in no time.

Two thoughts

First, I am so thankful for Byron. I feel this strange sense of helplessness with the Mighty Men. That is not to be confused with hopelessness. I am very hopeful, but really when you think about it, I have very little power over who they will ultimately become. I am doing a lot for them, if you think about what most men do for young men in their neighborhoods. But when you think about what a father does for his sons, I'm not even coming close to what that role should be. Two to three hours per week, even purposeful, love-filled hours, cannot replace the role of a man in their homes who will lovingly train them to be men of God. Some days I feel like I should be doing more, but then I look at the needs in my own home and acknowledge my limitations. Most days, though, I feel this peaceful sense of helplessness. These boys belong to God. He picked them. He created them, and He is the one in charge of making them Mighty Men. I mostly feel honored to be able to participate in what God is doing. I see His hand all over Byron. Byron is special. He is already leading young people to Jesus, and most importantly, he is a young man of character who really loves Jesus. I'm proud of him. I just want to state here publicly that God saved Byron and God gets all the glory for who he is. I am very thankful to be sharing in his life, but he is who he is because of the grace of God. I love being a dad to Byron, and I'm really glad that God is his Father who takes care of him when I can't. Pray for the other boys to follow Byron's lead.

Tonight my friend Richard called me. I met Richard a few months ago. He sleeps under a bridge. We don't always agree, but I think he knows I care about him. He has a cell phone that doesn't always have minutes, but tonight it did. I figured he was calling to ask me for cigarette money. I didn't answer the phone because I was praying with the kids. I just checked my voicemail and his message was just to tell me that he got a place to live. He ended the message with "woohoo!"
I guess it was something about the "woohoo!" that made me happy. Richard is not terribly expressive. I doubt he called anyone else tonight to share his good news. I am humbled and honored that he called me. Pray that he will keep calling. Pray that I won't forget that he isn't defined by his address or lack of one. Pray mostly that he will find Jesus. I will be shouting "woohoo!" with him, when he does.

Byron

Byron was baptized yesterday and it was amazing! Randy got to baptize him in Christ Fellowship's famous "horse trough". Before they got in, Randy read him a blessing and it was beautiful. Outside of his "blood" sons, Randy considers him a son and Byron claims him as his dad. It's just cool. Tarita came and I got to spend some wonderful time with her after church at the park just hearing their story. It's not my story to tell, but let's just say that God is SOVEREIGN and GRACIOUS and AMAZING! I LOVE seeing how He orchestrates life's circumstances (i.e. a massive, catastrophic hurricane - for those of you who don't know, the Smiths were forced to move here after "Katrina" and that's when our paths crossed) to bring people together. He is SO good! And I also love seeing how he takes people who have NOTHING in common but Jesus and knits their hearts together. I can tell that Tarita and I are going to be friends. Byron has started bringing his buddies from the football team to church and he really sees the peer pressure thing and how God can use him positively - yesterday he brought the quarterback with him. Hopefully, he'll be back!
Sorry there are so many pics - just wanted you to feel like you were there! ha!
This proud mama was so excited about Byron and LOVES my little Malachi.
Randy reading his blessing for Byron.
He thought the water was a bit cold and had everybody cracking up with his drama!

Isaac loves his Byron (could be because the boy gives him WHATEVER he wants! :))

A very cold new creation! :)

(he's still really cold)

Does anyone else experience the out-of-control-schedule-thing that seems to happen to us EVERY October? I'm falling asleep with my hands poised on the keyboard! It's been a busy day and will continue to be a busy month, but I'm thankful! This a.m. was Como Fishing Day - one hour cleaning up trash at the lake and then a few hours of fishing for anyone who wanted to come out (this event was put on by the city, led by a single woman from our church). I managed to get out of this event because I had a baby shower to go to. I can't say that I'm sorry - supervising 25 children waving baited hooks around is not my idea of a fun morning. I don't think it was Randy's either by the time it was over! :) Tonight was the Op Camp monthly dinner/program. We didn't have a big turnout, but everyone had fun carving pumpkins and eating pizza. Now I'm just sitting here praying and trying to figure out if I'm brave enough to go to bed. I would say I'm mildly nervous. About 45 minutes ago, Byron and his mom, Tarita, stopped by to pick something up and they had just heard what they think was two people jumping our fence (out of the backyard). RB checked out the backyard with Byron following him around waving the "OFF" bug spray :) and everything looked fine. Tarita asked me if it looked like everything was still in our garage...for those of you who have seen our garage, this should make you smile. Like we would know if anything was missing. That place is a MESS! Anyway, I know that God is protecting us and has probably protected us more times than I care to know about, but there is still that nagging sense of insecurity. Oh, and just so you know, my highly excitable husband (note the sarcasm) managed to fall out of bed when I went and got him and managed to fall right back in when they left. I THINK he was conscious when he was checking for any intruders, but I can't be sure. Love that guy - a little hard to get riled up. (Mom, I know you're reading this and I really am okay! Not even anxious - just a little uncomfortable). There really is a great sense of security in knowing WHO is protecting this house. Tonight He used Byron and Tarita's arrival. He is good. THIS is cool! Byron is getting baptized tomorrow! They were reading Acts 2 this week in Mighty Men and Byron raised his hand at the end and told Randy he wanted to get baptized. Yea! He calls Randy "Dad" and now Tarita tells him if he gets in trouble, etc. that he has to talk to his "father" (Randy). This sweet kid is making waves in the kingdom already! Can't wait to see what else God will do with this life! Anyway, here are a few pics from the week. The first ones are of our little trip to Mainstay Farms earlier this week. The kids had fun picking out little pumpkins to take home. Kendra! I got my pumpkin pictures! :)
Moriah and her best friend, Lily. These two are a hoot together!
Malachi is now mobile. This sort of scene is becoming all too familiar - in case you're wondering, I didn't pull any of those pots out.
Picking up trash at the lake this a.m.

Our summer intern, Tyler Jackson, was home from Baylor this weekend and came to the Op Camp dinner - we miss Mr. Tyler! He serves as a human jungle gym for our younger kids! :)

gray hair

Okay, I just have one little thing to say (and it will not provide even a fraction of the entertainment that my husband's poetry does), but I AM GETTING GRAY HAIR! It's TRUE! I've got these weird new GRAY curly hairs growing in on the front of my head. Someone needs to write a haiku about THAT....Good grief, I'm only 35....maybe I'm just becoming really wise....