FRIENDSHIP

Friendship
The word FRIEND is defined as a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. I read this definition and thought to myself, "That is not the definition of a friend". There is NO way that defines what a friend means to me.
This past weekend I had the pleasure to recall what true friendship is. Ironically some of these true friends I have not seen in over ten years. Yet there I was this past weekend surrounded by some of the most amazing women in the planet.
Now let me make one thing clear. We are not all exactly alike. Are tastes are all very different. We belong to a variety of church types and we all have our own unique hobbies. Yet there I was Saturday night looking around me at these beautiful women. Beautiful beyond just what you see in their pictures. Beautiful hearts, beautiful lives, beautiful stories.
Every one of them leaves a legacy of the person they are and of the God that they serve. As surreal as it was, I looked about me Saturday night as we laughed and cried together and I realized in that moment how blessed I was. I may only get to see these girls on occasion and certainly not as often as I like, but just the fact that I have been a part of their lives and they have been a part of mine, is a blessing I dare not take for granted. Every person there has shaped my life and inspired me in some way.
Friendship is a thing you take for granted until you lose it. It's value is priceless, it is an investment with an endless return. So to all my beautiful sisters in Christ, I love you, I miss you and I am so grateful to call you my FRIEND!..

My Fairytale!

My Handsome Prince








AND









My Country Princess

Worship in Spirit and Truth

Ironically you will find no greater controversy within the church world today than worship. Isn't it odd how deception comes from something that should be sacred and precious rather than something dark and unrighteous.
I have heard debates over everything from the style of music, the time alotted, conservative versus progressive and the list goes on. We complicate something that God desires from us so greatly. We spend more time analyzing worship than practicing it. It is a natural river that should flow from us without reservation. And it is a practice that should exist as much outside of the walls of a church as within them.
Worship can not exist with out a worshipper and an object of affection or adoration. Outside of that simple formula the rest is really natural. It is what we were created to do. If we were honest I think we would admit that we worship constantly throughout our daily lives. We magnify and exalt the things that are precious to us. Whether they be self, career, family or our relationships. We give honor and glory to the things in our lives that matter the most to us.
Yet when it is time to honor and exalt our Creator (the one who deserves our worship above all others), we complicate it with the things we think necessary to pay Him the greatest honor. All the while He is wanting only our hearts. The place, the sound, the style are of little consequence to Him.
He wants our hearts. Not part but the whole. We can not share our hearts with other gods and experience the blessings that come from pure worship. Sometimes we use the phrase "Spirit and in Truth" so loosely. What does it really mean. To worship in Spirit and in Truth? (John 4:23-24)
The scriptures about Spirit and Truth are not within the step by step plan of how to worship God or which song service works best. No these scriptures are within the story of the woman at the well. Jesus is telling this lost and searching woman. "but the time is coming AND IS ALREADY HERE, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for ANYONE who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth."
He was wanting her everything. He was trying to tell her that He already knew her. I mean really knew her. He didn't want her rituals and offerings and traditions of worship. He wanted HER! In spirit and in truth. Not just the parts she wanted to offer but the ugly and the attractive. The hidden and the revealed. Until we offer all the chambers of ourselves to Him, we will always be left with the grasping for True Worship from a far. Desiring it, yet never experiencing it. He longs for us to worship Him and we were created to do so.
I think the controversies of worship come from the fact that we know within ourselves that something is still missing. So we complicate it with strategies and formulas that we have heard will work in our favor. We make it even more difficult when we take the simplicity and the beauty of Worship away.
Earlier I stated that the simple formula for worship is an object of affection + a worshipper. Who are what will you worship today?

Deeper

I am learning new things. I am thinking too much. I am trying to catch up for the years I didn't think enough. So many things I just accepted. I thought I was full of discernment. Yet all I knew was how to surround myself with people like me. Then there is nothing really to discern.
Oh but how subtle the sway is. It comes over you slowly until you are covered in the very existense of it and it is you and you are it.
Church has always been so very important to me and I have always respected my leadership so much that I have never taken advantage of my right to question them. To question things that did not add up. Todd is just the opposite. He questions everything. I used to get so aggravated that he could not close his eyes and just walk blindly into something without examining and understanding it first. Oh to have taken the time to question and to understand and to learn beyond my own small experiences. What it might have saved me.
Now at thirty with over twenty years of knowing the Lord. I am realizing that so much of what I have seen was not TRUTH. My love for the Scriptures is stronger and deeper than ever. And to think that my desire to be "normal" by the standards of my peers, even Christian peers, has taken me to this place of such inner turmoil. To realize that man has made a business and a career out of the things God calls Holy.
Ministry. Ministry lets you see a side of people that not everyone sees. You know the whole story when the rest of the world knows only the half. You begin to see the clear politics of it. The compromises and campaigning for agendas. You begin by trying to fight it. To conquer, To make a difference. Then one day you wake up and you realize that you are just the same. You are compromising, you are campaigning and you have your own agenda. What is most upsetting is that you are making a difference. But what kind?
The results of mans agendas lead to emotionalism and hype and production and conducting. Until you realize that you really are just leading your own personal army. I don't want to lead any armies. I don't want to have an agenda. I don't want to search after some "fresh word", or "new revelation".
Instead of searching for more. I want to be stripped away. Stripped away of all that I have seen and of all I have heard. I want to lose the knowledge that I think I have until I am totally ignorant of anything but Him.
Then and only then will I be ready.

Where Have I been?

I know I keep leaving the blogshphere for months at a time. It is just getting way too hard to keep up this and my myspace. And since myspace is my latest addiction, that is usually where you will find me. Check me out there at www.myspace.com/foursmiths.
This weekend we have nothing we have to do, so we decided to put the primer on in the bathrooms and dining room/kitchen, so we can paint. Finally! I mean don't get me wrong, I love our new house, but the wallpaper HAS TO GO!
My life must be pretty sad when I get excited over painting. Don't feel too sorry for me though! I love my life just the way it is. Lord knows I haven't always been able to say that.
LATER!
b

How Time Flies

I know. I know. It's been way too long, but between trying to sell our house and MYSPACE. I just haven't been able to be introspective enough to blog.

Time however has not been at a stand still just because I have been absent. Here are the latest pics of the babies. Zach is 16 months today and Madelynn will be 3 years old on Sunday. What a big girl!
Sunday is the big party day and there will be lots of princesses and lots of pink!
Zach still only has one tooth and we are anxiously awaiting some new additions to his collections.
Abby is definately part of the family now and is just as spoiled as the rest of us.
Please pray that our house sells quickly and we can get relocated and settled soon in our new home.
We have had a lot of decisions to make lately about our future so as always we appreciate your prayers for our family.
We Love You All,
Betsy

A Star is Born

Madelynn sang for her first Christmas program last Sunday night. It was priceless. She was not supposed to have a solo, but a solo she sang!!! Jesus Loves Me has never been sung more beautifully than it was sung at our church that night. She finished with a crescendo at the end that had everyone applauding!!! You can tell from the grin on her face that she was pleased with her performance.
I looked at her daddy and he was laughing and crying at the same time. Sappy old man!
After the children's part the adult choir performed, and I sang a solo in it. Todd said he was never prouder of his two girls. We had a great time as Todd narrated and Madelynn and I sang. We can't wait until next year when Zach gets to participate too. Pretty soon we'll have to take our talented family on the road!

Before and After

Well as many of you know Zach was admitted into the hospital Wednesday. We had hopes that some breathing treatments and IV antibiotics would have him home on Thursday in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with RSV and we were told he couldn't come home yet. It was not the way we had hoped the Smith's would spend thier Holiday and we wanted Zach to get his first taste of momma's sweet potatoes and chicken & dressing.
But God is good and today he was able to come home. He is loving the freedom to roam where he pleases and play with his toys. Thank you to all our friends and family that prayed for a speedy recovery. We are truly thankful this year!

POWERFUL STUFF!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9r_Jo4N-aE&eurl=

Just had to pass this on!!

Is there anything better?

Sorry it has been so long, where does the time go? We went for a much overdo vacation to Baton Rouge at the end of September and celelbrated my 30th Bday and our 10th anniversary all in one! Todd got to go to the LSU game with his dad and my kids got their first experience of tailgating. We had so much fun and the kids did fairly well with the 6 hour drive too!

You forget all that you miss about a place. I miss De Angelo's calzones, my Mother in Law's famous stew meat gumbo, and the awesome experience of HPC!!

You also forget what you don't miss. I don't miss TRAFFIC on every corner, more concrete than grass, and not being near my mom when I need her.

The kids were happy to be home and so were we.

The next weekend Todd made the kids get in their LSU Pajamas at 2:30 for the game and by 3:15 He was ready to take them out of them again. LSU's loss to Florida is still a sensitive subject in our household and it is with fear and trembling that I am even writing about it today.

We have been busy with the regular stuff of life and enjoying the changing of the season. We woke up this morning to a chilly 42 degrees. Bring on the cool weather. Zach looked so cute in his little jump suit. In no time at all we will be making hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols. Until then Happy Holidays in Advance.

Love,
Betsy

Willingness To Suffer

Todd here, just wanted to share some thoughts:

I heard a profound statement that has been challenging me. I have a friend who is extremely into cycling. He was involved in a conversation on the phone and sitting right next to him I couldn't help but eaves drop just a little. Even though I was not involved in the conversation I could tell what they were talking about. They were talking about how these guys can get out there in the "Texas heat" and cycle 75 - 100 miles in 3 hours and still have the desire to keep going... to win the race. My friend responded with this statement, " it all comes down to who is willing to suffer the most." Wow!!!!!!! The preacher in me loves hearing things like this because obviously it is a great illustration. However, the person, the man in me hates to hear things like this because it hurts. I hate it because it challenges, it exposes, it makes me uncomfortable. Following Christ is all about running to him with an increasing pace. During a race the cyclist body is screaming at them to "STOP". During the Christian race our flesh screams at us telling us to give up and to give in. The racer knows that he belongs at the Finish Line, The racer knows that he did not start this race just to give up but to win. He pushes through the pain the " suffering" and focuses on the joy of crossing that finish line. His willingness to suffer is the very thing that enables him to finish his race.
Our willingness to suffer with Christ will be the very thing that takes us home. Count it all Joy!!!!!
Romans 18:1 / James 1:2

Changes

Well this was a week of changes for all the Smiths'. I started back work full time, a heart wrenching decision for our family. A choice like this is not made easily or quickly. We came to the decision that we were making the right change at the right time. THANK GOD for Mrs. Suzanne who has become the Smith Family Knight in Shining Armor! She cares for our babies like they were her own and without her we couldn't have come to the decision with any peace. She is a true Godsend to us.
Though I have shed many a tear over this past week, my kids seem to be adapting much better than I am. A blessing and a curse I guess. You want your kids to be happy about where they are going to be during the day, yet I struggle with also wishing they would be miserable without Mommy.
The first day Madelynn was exhausted from playing with all her new friends and was asleep by 8:15. Mommy was exhausted too and went to sleep as soon as she did! By the end of the day today I was feeling better about our shaky routine and beginning to feel like we might all survive.
God Bless all you working moms out there, the choice is one that only you can make and many times you are plaqued with all those "Aren't your kids more important?" comments. My kids are the most important thing and my reasons for going to work have WAY more to do with them than with me!! Good Luck to all you families out there trying to juggle family, work, church, friends, marriage and maybe squeeze a minute in there once in a while for yourself.
Keep this Smith family in your prayers as we are still learning to adjust and learning to juggle. Ours is an ever moving target!

So Blessed

Well, well , well, I can officially call myself a blogger. This is Todd by the way. This is the first time I have done this. Betsy is very hesitant to let me do this as I am not as gifted in the area of overrated things like correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. I have enjoyed so much reading Betsy's blog and thought it was about time to let people hear from her other half.
Last Sunday Madelynn was at her Maw Maw's house so it was very quiet not having the 2 year old running crazy in the house. Betsy was playing the piano and singing some old Hillsong's music. Zach and I went outside to sit on the bench. We listened to Betsy sing and play the piano. It was so incredible and peaceful. As I sat outside, held my son and listened to my wife sing I felt like all was right. I felt like the luckiest man on the face of the earth to have such a beautiful family. It was such a beautiful picture of God's Grace and Mercy in my life. To be so blessed despite all the wrong I have done. To feel so peaceful. To feel so hopeful for the future despite my past. And to be so excited what else God has in store. I could go on and on describing the sense of pride I have for my family and the thanksgiving I give to God for all of His great blessings. Take time today to sit back, look around , count your blessings and give thanks to God.

105 & Who Cares?

Here in East Texas we have had a week or more of 100 degree weather. The last few days have been 105 with a heat index of 108. I would rather eat spinach then do anything outside in the middle of the day. As you can tell, my kids however seem oblivious to my extreem discomfort. They love being out there and it is quite a struggle to keep them indoors all day.

Zach loves the water and his swing but Madelynn's all time favorite past time is playing in the dirt with the dogs. The dirtier she gets the happier she is. (So much for my dainty little girl). So until the summer ends I guess my days with be filled with sitting in the shade with an Ozarka bottle fanning myself while my kids giggle with delight. I couldn't think of anything better!

Cousins

Every childhood memory I have is laced with memories with my cousins. We did everything together. I wish that Madelynn and Zach had cousins who lived closer and were closer in age. I am blessed though that the cousins they do have don't seem to care one bit how little they are and are happy to enjoy what little time they get together. This weekend we met the Smith's/Fontenot's at Emerald Hills near Toledo Bend. We had a GREAT time!

I will be the first one to admit that roadtrips with my kids is nothing I look forward to but the weekend made it well worth the stress. The kids were so worn out from the weekend that it made the trip home much easier than the trip there.

Todd was more than a little sad to leave and I perfectly understand. I can remember how I would feel driving down the long driveway of my parents house after we would come for a visit here. It is a most miserable feeling. Like he said if only there was a way to see them without it being so difficult. I know he enjoyed spending time with his dad on the golfcourse and eating his mom's homemade icecream is sure to make anybody homesick. I told him we were well overdue for a LONG visit in BR and as soon as he can take his vacation in the fall we need to make plans to go for 4-5 days instead of just a weekend trip. He readily agreed.

In a few years the kids will be older and although the trip won't be any shorter it will at least be a little more bearable. Until then we will savor the special times we can enjoy together and count them a blessing!

Mother's Day

 

A 96 Hour Virus

I have discovered there is something worse than the 24 hour virus, Multiplying that with a family of four. I woke up early Thursday morning with a feeling that something wasn't quite right. It didn't take long to confirm my suspicions and by 8 am that morning I was in the ER with severe vomiting and diarrhea. Thank goodness for a mom who will drop everything and come running when tragedy strikes the Smith house. Todd made it home around 11 and took charge of the household while I was quarantined to the bedroom. The only thing harder than being sick when you are a mommy is listening to your two year old cry because mommy can't play with her.

I managed through Friday and although I was still not feeling up to parr, my only consolation was that Todd and the kids were feeling fine. Unfortunately, I spoke to soon. At one o'clock the next morning Todd and I were awakened by Madelynn's blood curdling screams. I knew instantly that something was wrong. Todd made it to her first and she threw up all over him. He changed his shirt and I sent him back to bed to listen for Zach while I nursed Madelynn. Bless her heart, the rest of the night she threw up about every 20 - 30 minutes. I felt powerless because all I could do is hold her and rub her back and hold a towel for her. Thankfully finally around 5 the Phenergan started to kick in she stopped throwing up. She was so weak that after the first or second time she got sick I would have to hold her up to make sure she didn't choke because she would just lay there while she was throwing up. Needless to say there wasn't much rest for me that night and when Todd got up with Zach at six he instisted I go to bed for awhile.

I slept till about 7:30 and got up concerned about how Madelynn was doing. Like most toddlers not understanding about sickness she was up acting like nothing had happened. About every hour or two she would get really quiet and ask to watch a movie and several times she wold end up falling asleep. (For those of you well aquainted with my daughter you know she must have been sick).

Well to make a long story short Zach got sick by Sunday morning and Todd by Sunday evening. He and Zach are camped out in the back bedroom right now resting as it usually leaves you pretty weak for a day ot two after.

As sick as I felt on Thursday I would have to say that there is no greater pain than watching the ones you care about suffer and not be able to do anything for them. I think back to all the times as I child that I was sick and that my brothers were sick and wonder how my mom had the strength to put one foot in front of the other somedays. There must be a supernatural strength given to Mothers for this very purpose. Todd and I both came from families were both parents worked and although I stay at home right now I have GREAT appreciation for all working mothers (especially since I did it with Madelynn). Todd and I were both blessed that our parents were the type that willingly struggled to give us the best even though the cost was often great. What it created in us, is a consistent work ethic and a strong sense of responsibility that is severely lacking in our society today. I hope that we will be able to set the same examples for our children because they too deserve the best!

Be it ever so humble There's no place like home

Well if there is anything I learned from our trip to San Antonio last summer, it's that you shouldn't take little ones on vacation for days at a time because they just don't like being away from home that long (especially in a hotel).

So mom and I and the two kids loaded up the mini van Friday for a mini vacation in East Texas. The day started at the Discovery Science Place in Tyler. Although Madelynn is only two she had a blast and could have stayed there all day. I knew better though and instisted that nap time was more important. We headed to Luby's for some good food and veggies (too much fast food gets old for everyone).

Then we were off to the children's park (mostly for a few pictures) the water falls are beautiful and so are the statues. If you are ever in Tyler Texas it is a don't miss for sure. By 1:30 we were settled into our room at the Wingate and ready for some serious napping. Of course Zach had slept in the van so he was wide awake while Madelynn slept which meant no rest for Mommy (such is life).

When Madelynn woke up we took the kids swimming in the indoor pool and it was Zach's first time. He loved the water and in fact he almost fell asleep just floating on the water. I always loved the water too and I think he will be like me.

After all the swimming it was Chuck E Cheese time. I'm am glad that Madelynn had a good time on all the rides, but I must say they sure didn't get famous on their award winning pizza. Those people are making a fortune. Nasty pizza, cheap games, cheap prizes that take at least 1000 tickets to purchase and you win like an average of 2 tickets a game. Oh well I guess the kids liked it so who cares.

That night my brother came to visit and Zach really liked that. He definitely was fascinated with him. He pretty much takes to anybody willing to talk to him and make funny faces.

The next morning we checked out and headed for Jacksonville to go to a drive thru Safari called Cherokee Trace. Madelynn loved seeing the animals but wasn't too hip on the idea of feeding them when they got too close to the car. Zach liked the kangaroos the best and everytime they hopped he did too! His Maw-Maw will probably have the bruises on her legs to prove it.

The funny thing about our whole adventure is that I think I broke my little toe that Friday morning while I was packing. I basically hobbled from one activity to another with a throbbing purple toe as my side kick.

Well I was exhausted by the time we made it home and I could tell the kids were too since they both crashed earlier than usual. It was fun while it lasted but I have to admit there is no greater feeling then crawling into your own bed when you are tired and you've been away from home. And judging from the way my kids slept, I think they feel the same way. Like the saying goes "BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!"

Mother's Day

Well Mother's Day has come and gone and I have to say I feel like the whole weekend was one big Mother's Day. Todd and Madelynn went shopping Friday night and Zach spent the night with Maw-Maw. I should have learned by now to sit and chill when you get these rare moments of peaceful bliss, but I spent most of the evening straightening up (which for me is sometimes just as relaxing). Todd came home and like a kid before Christmas couldn't wait to give me my gifts.

I got some new cannisters for the kitchen, a CD and my favorite new candybar. The TAKE 5. If you haven't had a TAKE 5 yet, I recommend you get one as soon as possible. Some creative genius decided to put chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, peanuts, and pretzels all together and make the greatest invention in my opinion since the curling iron. Now I know what you are thinking, "Isn't that kind of an overload to the tastebuds?" That my friends is the genius, each bite has the perfect amount of each element. As you can tell I have done extensive research!

Back to Mother's Day weekend.....Saturday we got up, packed the van, picked up Zach and we were off to Mineola for Mineola May Days, we enjoyed the booths and food and smelled the great smells coming from all the different pits at the BBQ cook-off. Madelynn rode the Merry Go Round and several other carnival rides. Zach mostly just sat in the stroller but he did perk up when we went to watch the pet show. We made sure to get the kids nice and tired and like always we enjoyed a quite ride home as they both slept.

By the time Sunday arrived I was almost tired of the all the festivities. I had to bring a special gift to a friend at church along with two corsage boxes, a Mother's Day gift and card for Mom, my purse, my CD for the special at church, a tape someone had asked to borrow, 2 diaper bags, an extra bottle of formula, and Zach's baby food for lunch. I get tired just reading the list much less packing it all in the van. At least I didn't have to make lunch. Todd treated the family (along with my Mom) to lunch at the Country Buffet in Mineola. We thought we'd try and beat the church crowd, but I guess everyone had the same idea. Boy was it crowded. This time Madelynn went to Maw-Maw's and Zach slept on the way home with us.

I wish I could say that I had time to sit and reflect on the joys and pains of Motherhood but I'm lucky I remembered to brush my teeth. Besides Sunday night was the finale of Survivor!!! Don't even get me started on that. I will save my thoughts on Terri being the most deserving of all the survivor contestants thus far for another day.

Until then!

A Boat, A Tractor & A Waterhose

My kids had a blast today! It's amazing how your children remind you that true pleasure comes from the simple things in life. We took a ride in Paw-Paw's boat, and to Madelynn she couldn't have been happier if she were on a 50 ft yacht. In fact she prefers Paw-Paw's aluminum boat because when he goes fast, she can spread her arms out against the wind and she says that "she is flying". It was Zach's first time on the boat and the rhythm of the water put him right to sleep.

Madelynn came home and ate lunch and then followed suit with a 2 hour nap. Zach woke up and got to ride with Paw-Paw on the tractor. Riding on the tractor with Paw-Paw is a BIG treat in our family and is still Madelynn's favorite past time. The afternoon ended with drinking from(which lead to playing with) the waterhose.

Moments like these may fade from their memory because they are so small but they are the treasures that I will cherish for a lifetime. I awe at how blessed my kids truly are, and wonder how any kid passes through his or her childhood without a boat, a tractor or a waterhose.