Boat People?

1 houseboat + 15 college students + a family of 4 = Tons of chaotic FUN!

After about 10 min. on the (docked) boat,
Beau and I already felt sea sick.

We have been back now for 24 hours and we still have our sea legs.

We have determined we, the Smith's, are NOT boat people.

Thank you Front Porch students for loving our little family.

Even though it makes us very sick...
we can't wait to Houseboat again
with you again next year

Front Porch students!

A Gathering of Friends

We used to sing a song in my Brownie troop about friends...

"Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold."

...This weekend I had the privilege of visiting 

with some of my golden friends!  

We met in middle school and now we are all married mommies!

Between the six of us we have 11 kids age 5 and under 

(8 girls and 3 boys) 

and 2 more babies cookin'!

We all made our favorite desserts to share!  Erin your pear tart was divine!

What would a reunion be without old photos!

The last two of us chatted until 3 am!  Each lovely friend carried home a small treat...a picture of our last gathering!  

These are the kind of friends who really know you...even though we have all changed throughout the years...the core of who we each are is still the same.  And at our cores we have beautiful hearts.  Thank you lovely ladies for an unforgettable evening...I can't wait to plan our next gathering! 

 I love you lots...Dez, Erin, Mars, Katie and Kacy!

Baby Bliss

I finally got to meet 2 week old Rebecca Marie 

and I am an auntie in love! 

 She is so petite and adorable...

it was hard not to sneak away with her in my car.  

She is a VERY sleepy baby 

and she loves to be snuggled! 

Thank Heaven for this precious baby girl!

Happy Sabbath!

Cousins

Eden was very excited to play with her cousins this weekend...

Wikipedia says that a cousin is a relative with whom one shares a common ancestor.

...but they are so much more than that! 

Eden says "Bye- bye cousins...see you really soon at my birthday party!"

Holy is the Lord Under a Coffee Table

Asher's name is a Hebrew name and it means Happiness.  Most days Asher's name truly describes his state of being, but this weekend, Asher had a hard weekend.  There are just some times for him that all of life seems overwhelming and difficult and so he cries...and cries...and cries.  He has to work so hard to do the everyday simple tasks....things like feeding himself and sitting up in the bathtub and going through multiple diaper changes daily and trying his hardest to use his walker, sometimes, are all too much for him.  He is the sweetest and most lovable little boy and my heart breaks for him and life seems unfair when he struggles.  Today he did not want to go to Sunday School and be with the other kids so I sat with him in the sitting area of the sanctuary.  He rolled under a coffee table and stayed under there through most of the service reading his books.  I wished that I could have fit under that little oval table with him. Sometimes the everyday simple tasks of life are just too much for me as well...and I want to hide from it all.  This worship song was a great inspiration for me today...not to run and hide...but to stand and lift my hands for "the joy of the Lord is my strength."

HOLY IS THE LORD

We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
 
And together we sing
 
[Chorus]
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory
 
We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
 
And together we sing
Everyone sing
 
[Chorus]
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory
 
It's rising up all around
It's the anthem of the Lord's renown
Repeat
 
And together we sing,
Everyone sing
 
[Chorus]

Please pray for strength for Asher this week and have a Happy Sabbath!