Happy Halloween from Miss Smith

Hope for tomorrow...

I just finished reading a great book and I would recommend it to anyone!



For us believers, it gives us a glimpse into what we are working towards. Is it 100% sure what Heaven is going to be like - of course not...but you would never convince this guy otherwise. If Heaven is anything close to what he describes, I can't wait. It is hard for me to think that in Heaven we will not "miss" those we left behind...but as he said there is no concept of time...to know our loved ones will be joining us is all we need b/c although years may pass by until they are there, it just doesn't seem like it in Heaven.

I'm awful at describing things like this, so I just say head to your local library and give this one a read. Heaven is real and we have the assurance from Christ Jesus that we will be there if we have put our trust in Him and given our hearts to Him.

Bargain Shopping - is it worth it?

The reason I ask is because I think maybe it is possible to go TOOOO far for a bargain.

You know I am the QUEEN of bargain shopping. I watch grocery ads and clip coupons just like a SAHM. If something we use is on sale, I stock up. I get this from my mom, you see. Remember when we stocked up on like 100s of bags of chocolate chips when they were on sale? We didn't have to buy chocolate chips for like a year - it was great. Most recently, Dillons had their healthy choice meals for a BUCK. We bought a lot of them....filled both the freezers on our fridges AND the stand alone freezer we have. We're still eating on them, although we are running low and need to start finding sales again....

Anyway, I love it when stores run hamburger helper for $1.00. We don't eat a lot of it, but it sure is a handy meal in a pinch....and many times I have coupons too which makes them super cheap.

So, last week, Woods in Ft Scott had the $1 heplers. This week, Dillons ran the same special. I wasn't going to make a special trip for them since we were already stocked up....but I had to take the Sugar to the doctor on Monday morning and then went to Dillons to get a perscription for her. While waiting for the medicine, I decided since I was there I would gather some grocerys...including the 10 for $10 Helper meals. I realize just b/c it is 10 for $10 you dont REALLY have to get 10 but I did anyway.

The problem lies when I got home...all of our cabinets were already full of hamburger helper. I seriously could not find anywhere to store the ones I'd just purchased. I need a pantry folks! So, what did I do.....stuck them in the one place I had some extra room - my bedroom closet. As I did that, I realized that maybe, just maybe, those helper meals were a bargain I could have passed on this time around.

Positive Thoughts

As I sit here this morning folding laundry, I really wanted to be in a bad mood. JoeDel went off to sit in a deer stand and he must have hid the remote control from me so I couldn't watch lifetime b/c I can't find it anywhere.

I really wanted to be grumpy but I have decided to look at the positive. Folding socks and underwear and pjs only means that I have been blessed with a husband that loves me and a precious little girl. Him running off to the deer stand only means that I get some much needed "me" time (well sort of since Avery is still here with me). Hobbies such as hunting mean that he has his own identity and enjoys life.

Oh,and I did find the remote so lifetime is back on and all is well in the world.

As soon as I get the laundry folded, I will be getting myself and Avery ready to head to church! It is going to be a good day afterall!

Thank God for Digital Photography!

I can't believe that Audrey has kept this shirt all these years! I bought this for Auston when I was a Freshman at SBU. The little pudger wore it long before his first bday and it is a 2T!!!!!! She wore it today, along with her first pony tail.

Oh, and you wouldn't even know Auston these days. He still looks as adorable as in these photos...but he is so tall and skinny. He is the sweetest 10 year old boy I have ever known though and I love him just as much now as I did back then. I just can't believe how time flies. 

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

I saved this one for today. I love it.

Home Again

Our weekend was super busy but was also very fun.

We left bright and early on Friday morning....after a quick stop at the bank, JoeDel realized he had forgotten his sunglasses so we had to stop back by our house on the way through town. We pulled back into the driveway and Ryan pipes up from the very back of the van "Uncle JoeDel....you forgot to go to St. Louis!" It was really cute and a great start to our trip.

We went to a fun pumpkin patch in St. Louis. Avery loved, loved, loved it. After that, we went to eat at Hooters (JoeDel's idea)...we had the hooter girls bring over birthday ballons for Ryan but he freaked out. Oh well, I guess give him a few years.

After that, we checked into our room and hung out for awhile...then we went to the Nascar speedzone place where JoeDel, Missy and Ryan raced gokarts. We played laser tag too, which I love. After we left there, we went for some WHITE CASTLE!

Saturday, JoeDel and I went to my Grandpas funeral. We got to see Lynne and all of my dads family so that was really nice. It was sad, but it was a really nice ceremony.

That afternoon we went to Grant's Farm and then just rode around downtown. Missy had several Obama sightings (or so she thought). Obama was in town for a big rally Saturday (which we did not even try to attend, no thank you)...

Sunday we went to the Meramac Caverns on our way home. It was a big weekend for our family, for sure.

Here are some photos...

2 Weeks Later

Well it's been 2 weeks tomorrow since Avery's big fall. Looks like she's going to be just fine....look close though and you can still see the bruise.

Wordless Wed #2

Happy Birthday to cousin Ryan! He is the big 4 today. We love you Ryan!

Wordless Wednesday

The Countdown is ON!

In approximately 78 hours I will be biting into a fresh, hot WHITE CASTLE SLYDER! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!



I have to be happy about something...since this trip is really going to stink for me. I am looking forward to spending time with JoeDel and Avery and Missy, Ryan and Mary, but I am not looking forward to the memorial service for my Grandpa. I'm also not looking forward to facing the 1 year mark of Leonard's passing. What are the odds that just one year after JoeDels dad died, we are having a funeral for Grandpa. Go away Oct. 18th. I hate you.

On our way!

In the midst of my really bad day last Friday (avery's trip to the ER, the news that Grandpa had died)....I got a call from work asking if our family would be interested in attending the Shaw Flooring Alliance Convention in Orlando this coming January. HELLO - of course!!!

I just finished booking our flights and conference registration! We are looking forward to 4 days in sunny Orlando Florida to Celebrate Avery's 2nd birthday. Whooo hooo! The conference starts on Sunday evening, but we are flying in on Saturday night so we can spend the day SUNDAY at Magic Kingdom!!!!! The conference includes a night at Universal too. So, even though I will be working most of the time (blah blah), it will still be so fun for our family. JoeDel has never been in on one of these conventions before so I am anxious to see his eyes light up when they start the "smooze" fest!

I am really excited. Of course we could never, ever afford this on our own so a BIG thanks to HMS for letting me attend this convention and take my family along. Even though it really sucks getting up and leaving Avery every morning to come to work, I guess this job does have its perks!

Latest Venture

Check out this site....

Smith Chiropractic

It's my latest attempt at being a webmaster! Let me know what you think, and if you have any ideas or see anything that needs corrected.

Thanks!

You've got to be kidding me

As I watch the news this morning, I must blog.

I just heard Joe Biden make comments about "The Lord dropping a Plaque" He was trying to explain that the economic crisis has been coming for awhile and it isnt a sudden thing...but still. That scares me.

Next, they've been talking a lot this morning about the world markets. I heard the world "Global" several times and the world "Global" referring to Money also scares me. Where have we heard reference to Global Currency - you got it - Revelation.

I am more convinced today than ever that this next leader of our country is in fact the AntiChrist. I am not even concerned so much about this campaign anymore. Yes, I'm voting for the conservatives but I believe that Obama will win. If he is in fact the antichrist, there's no way he'd lose this election.

Tighten your seatbelts folks, we are in for an interesting ride. I'm just glad I know where I'm going!

Happy Wednesday.

Unlucky Ducky...that's ME!

This just isn't my week.

Last night we went to Hepler to celebrate Grandma Huffman's birthday. It was a fun night. We were loading up to go home...Granny was riding in the front, JoeDel was driving, and I opted to ride in the back with Avery.

Somehow, I wasn't paying attention and JoeDel wasn't paying attention and I ended up w/ my hand slammed in the door. OUCH!!!!!!! I tried to remain calm as I said "please open the door....honey, please open the door"

No answer

"OPEN THE BEEP BEEP DOOR"

JoeDel "oh, dear, ok"

He opened the door and I high tailed it back into Mary's house for some ice.

The door shut on my wedding ring, thus saving my hand from complete misery. It still hurt, but it would have been much worse w/out the ring. My finger is swollen and achy today. I can still type though. whoo hoo!

Accident Prone - for sure!

Thank you all for the nice comments related to Avery's injury and also to my Grandpa's passing. Friday was a rough day!

Mom and I decided to go ahead and go on our adventure this weekend. Avery's medicine kicked in fast so she was in pretty good spirits.

We headed out Saturday morning for our Train Ride adventure to help our neighbor and friend, Jana Callaway, celebrate her 50th bday. The Train Ride was WONDERFUL. I would recommend it to anyone. It was just really a neat deal....with one exception...

Did I ever tell the story about how when I went on "Ride the Ducks" in Branson last year, our DUCK got a flat tire? What are the odds?! Well, my friends, what are the odds that I would get in a train wreck on a nice little excursion train ride? Apparently they were 100% in my favor.




Thats right - I have now been a part of a train wreck only, thank God, I was ON THE train and not the car that got hit.

Anyway, we spent the night in Springdale on Saturday night. The kids went swimming and then afterwards the moms (plus nathan and minus sara) played cards. That was fun!

Sunday we drove to Eureka Springs. We didn't ever meet up with the Callaways that day, although they were in the town too. They went shopping at the Market while we went to see the big Jesus statue and the old Crescent Hotel (which they say is haunted, but I didn't see any ghosts). Mom had stayed there 30 some years ago w/ some old boyfriends, so it was fun for her to go back.

Goodbyes

My Aunt Elaine called me yesterday afternoon to tell me that Grandpa had died...so now I am officially without Grandparents, and Avery no longer has a Grandpa. It was sad to me last night as I walked through Walmart with a good friend, her daughter and her parents. Corinne (the little girl) has her Grandpa wrapped around her finger. She loves her papa and he loves her so much. It just made me sad to think that Avery doesn't have a papa anymore. Not even 1.

She has 4 WONDERFUL Grandmas though so she's pretty lucky. Between Grammy Sara, Grandma Mary, Grandma Lynne and Granny Huffman, the girl is pretty blessed (we all are to have them!)

Thats all for now. The bump on Averys head is almost GONE! Praise the Lord. There is still a bruise, but its not nearly as bad this morning as I was expecting. Her fever is gone too! Thank you Lord for fast acting antibiotics.

:)

Our 1st trip to the E.R.

I never saw it coming.

Avery actually had a dr appointment this afternoon b/c she's been wheezing a lot lately and I wanted to get her checked out before we go on this weekend adventure to Arkansas.

So, I took her to moms this morning and was planning to pick her back up around 1 and go to the doctor.

We got in the door, barely, and she tripped on the blankie she was carrying and went face first HARD into the step leading from the playroom to the kitchen. I immediately picked her up and yelled at mom to get ice, the bruise was already bad and it had just been maybe 2 seconds. Well, of course a knot popped up...I'm still totally calm (not like its the first fall shes had!)

Well, after about 5 minutes the knot is just getting bigger and bigger and bigger and Grammy starts freaking out (never a good sign) and so I made the ultimate decision to drop a bunch of money and take her to the Emergency Room.

No concusion - thankfully! The knot is looking WAY better but is still pretty nasty. I will take some pictures for you all to see. She also has tonsilitis (again) and an ear infection...so she's running a 102 fever and just feels downright crummy. Right now she's on my lap as I type here at work...we came out to gather up a few things and then I'm going to work from home this afternoon - my baby needs me!

Just a report, we are all fine and dandy after our little scare.

I "heart" my macbook!

I am BACK!!!!!

My laptop is back in my possession and is running smoothly! It will be great to "rejoin" the world!

Until I have something better to say...