Friday, October 02, 2009

Life at the Smith's...


Here I am again. It's been a long time since I've posted & a lot has happened since. The girls started a new school since we moved & so far, all is well. I think they miss their friends & just the familiarity of the routine. Isabelle said to me" I like our old school better because they taught you about God in EVERY subject. "
wow!
It's crazy that a 1st grader noticed that. I miss that part too though. It was comforting to know that they were being taught how God is IN everything. When problems happened they were taught to lean on Him & find peace & solutions.
Yes, of course we also teach these things at home but there's something to say about it when you hear it outside of your own parents & hearing it from every teacher.
Beyond this we still feel like we've made the right decision to switch schools. Our family life has become less stressed, we have TIME now in the evenings together where we never did last year. Sometimes we ride our bikes or walk to school. Everything is just better this year. And our family needed this time of "togetherness" after a hard & stressful year last year.

I have been searching for a part time job-something, anything that I can do while the girls are at school. During this search David & I have been talking a lot about me just staying home to continue writing.
About 5 yrs ago I wrote a book that I've been too fearful to do anything with. Yet God continues to whisper to me to just DO IT & trust in HIM! So, I'm moving forward(again)and this time not stopping.
A few weeks ago I had a focus group of women over of all walks of life to read & discuss my book.
The response was amazing! Young & old told me that I needed to get this book out there.
I had young women say to me," I never thought of it like that, I'm going to try to do those things"
That's what I want for this book. Women's hearts changed. Girl's hearts opened. For them to see that they are loved & noticed.

That book is basically done. I'm just praying for a low cost editor to clean things up for me so that I can send out the manuscript to publishers.

So, I'm gonna keep writing. I have several ideas for other books & David has a few ideas up his sleeve also that he wants me to start writing.

If a job comes up that is like 3 days a week or so, I might consider it, but for now I'm gonna write.

What a different season we are in as a family. Our hectic, busy lives are over right now & to be honest...I am glad.
Don't fool yourself & run, run, run. It may seem fun & okay at the time but you gotta s...l...o...w down. Life is too precious to miss something really important. And what's really important is right here with your family...just being together-taking walks to Handel's ice cream, riding bikes, playing ping-pon, telling stories cuddled up with a blanket, laughing at a comic strip, collecting rocks, coloring, talking about God & his world, laughing till you pee your pants...these are the ingredients to a happy, healthy family life. Try it you'll be glad you did.

Monday, August 17, 2009

In awe of God

I can't believe how time has flown! I know I say that almost every post, but it is sooo true!
Much has happened to our family over the course of a year. We lost our home & have moved in with our dear friends. The economy has taken a toll on David's job & his sales have been at a record low. I am constantly amazed at my God who protects & encourages during these times & I just could not imagine life without Him.
What a blessing to have such an amazing pool of friends who offered help, prayers, their time & their homes to us! We were in awe each day...

We were especially amazed at how God brought us our living situation. Dan & Jen(friends of ours for over 20 years) bought a home & fixed it up. They realized that the home was plenty big for both families to live in & asked if we'd like to stay. There would have been no way for us to fit our entire home in a small apartment & I'm sure we would have been paying WAY to much for rent anywhere else. We literally JUMPED at the opportunity. And those of you that know the 4 of us know that we've always joked about living together...I mean why not? We were together ALL the time anyway. So since June we have been "house sharing" and we truly love it! The house stays cleaner, the dishes stay washed, we have a laundry mat downstairs so you can do 2 loads at once, jobs around the house get done faster & it's just plain fun to be able to hang out after the kids go to bed.

Yes, yes we've also set up some boundaries...I mean everyone need privacy & time alone with your family. I am constantly checking in with them to "make sure everything is still ok" and they tell me that it's good.

So praise God for such great friends who love us regardless of our past failures & mishaps who are literally sheltering us during our storm.

In the midst of these trials we have learned so much about pride, money, making wise choices & allowing people to love & help you even when you THINK you have it all together.

Thank you God for your love, your guidance & for such amazing friends! And I mean ALL of you!!!!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

oi vey

oi vey, so it has really been a long time since I've even touched my personal blog...that's what a full time job, plus being a mommy, a wife, a friend, a chef & a maid will do to you...yikes!
Where has time gone? And yes, I do say that ALOT! But so much has taken place since my last post, when I get an extra minute-hee hee-I'll share more!