Technology

Today I did something brand new.

[DRAMATIC PAUSE]

Today . . . I sent my first text message.

Chad and I finally got our own cell phones. We used to have just one that we used for emergencies but we found that it was too expensive; on top of it, when the antenna broke and I took it to Verizon, they didn't even know what kind of phone it was (and needless to say, did not have replacement parts!) I think they thought I dropped in from another planet, at least that's the way the guy looked at me and my phone.

So anyway, as Chad and I are spending more and more time running around with the kids and with Chad sometimes traveling for work, we decided to get some phones. Okay, I admit, they are just the "pay-as-you-go" tracfones. But suddenly I have become part of the information age.

I used to wonder why my parents were so behind the times, especially when it came to technology. I think we were the last kids in the neighborhood to have a microwave, a VCR, Atari, etc (am I dating myself here or what?) And later on, I was impatient when they didn't have email or a home computer. (The addition of a long-distance grandchild kind of put that into fast forward, however.)

NOW I realize why it took them so long. They were busy living life, keeping a roof over our heads, making sure we kids kept out of trouble, helping other people out, doing the million things that parents do every day . . . Now that I am a parent I realize these things. Some days, I barely have time to brush my teeth, let alone sit down and figure out something new - who has time to text message??

So today I was checking out at Target, and looked at my phone (since Chad is out of town), and there it said "you have a message". Once I got to the car, I figured out how to look it up, and the silly phone actually said "Reply?" I tentatively pushed "reply" and next thing you know, I was "texting" Chad.

I am so proud of myself. Am I a cool, hip mom or what? :)

Handwriting on the wall

I know Thanksgiving is way over and Christmas is in full swing, but just had to post this belatedly.

Lately Audrey has a huge interest in writing and spelling out words. A few days before Thanksgiving I came out to the living room to find this taped to the wall. For a moment, I thought she was an absolute genius ... until I realized that she had copied it from something hanging on our window. :) In any case, I think it's pretty darn good for a four year old!


We have much to be thankful for, including all the things that our children are learning! (Wasn't she just born? You turn around and they're leaving you messages on the wall!)

I made an elf of myself

Okay, if you want to see something pretty funny (and a tad bit weird) that involves our family, please click on the following link:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1125161404

Every time I look at this I can't stop laughing!

Enjoy. Tis the season to be jolly!

Re-learning old lessons

Why is it that we humans can't seem to learn a lesson the first time? It seems to me that we often have to learn something over and over and over and over again. I know I do.

And alas, I see this in my daughter. A month or so ago, she started throwing herself to her knees, bursting into tears, and yelling "WHY??" in response to getting the answer "No" - a word she appears to enjoy using, but seems to be not so fond of hearing. Anyhow, for a few days she would go straight to timeout each and every time she threw herself down. After a couple days, whaddaya know? - this behavior vanished. (For once I was successful in eliminating a problem behavior!!! Yeah, me!! Probably because this particular one drove me absolutely insane.) So a few days ago, I noticed a disturbing pattern - yup, once again, throwing herself down and making a scene. So. . . I guess I shouldn't have been patting myself on the back yet. And back to timeout we go.

Yet - am I so different? Do I learn my lessons the first time? Sometimes ... but unfortunately, it seems as if the most important lessons are the ones that take some time (and a few cycles of re-learning) to sink in.

For example, since we began attending our church 2 years ago, my husband and I envisioned potentially starting a small group for younger married couples. Our small church has seen a lot of growth lately, and so, with the pastor's encouragement and blessing, we decided to take on the ministry of beginning a small group. Immediately my insecurities started taking over. What if no one is interested in joining the group? What will we study? What if a Bible scholar joins the group and thinks we are spiritually stupid? What if we're too quiet/introverted/etc. to lead a group? What if people drop out? Maybe people won't like us . . . etc, etc. If I would have stayed with this train of thought, the group would have never even gotten started. And truly, don't our insecure thoughts get so absurd sometimes? I used to lead small groups as part of my JOB, for pete's sake, and no one ever ran out screaming! :)

As I began to pray about all my insecure thoughts, however, the Lord reminded me of something quite important -- this group wasn't about ME!! It was something He was fashioning and forming, for His glory. If it was going to happen, He would be the one building it. He would lead us through the process. This was not Chad & Amy Smith's group, it was God's, and I needed to put it all in His hands, trust Him, and keep my paws off of it!

This is a lesson that I have learned many times before. I could go on and on with stories of how God has provided -- for my cross-country move for graduate school, how I raised almost $3000 for a missions trip in a few weeks . . . I even see God's hand in how I ended up with my husband! God is always faithful and always provides when we trust in Him, and not ourselves. I am so grateful for this truth, even though I seem to have to learn it over and over again . . .

So, here we are, a few months into our group. In September we had the four other couples over to our home for dinner as kind of a group "kick-off", and as I sat at the table and watched all the positive energy in the room, I was so thankful. Thankful that God had brought the group together. Thankful to get to know these fellow believers. Thankful to be used by God in a way that was so exciting. And oh so thankful that God had helped me see that this wasn't about me. The real joy for me is standing back and listening to God and letting Him work through this.

Keep praying for us as we seek to serve God in this new way. I, for one, am praying that I will continue to trust God with the things He has called me to do -- and that I will believe and not doubt.

Handsome boy - with new teeth!!

Just adding some new pictures of Carter. We had a little "photo session" after breakfast this morning because I was trying to get some pictures of him with his new teeth. He cut 3 top teeth in the last month! (Can you say sleep deprivation?)

Carter is nine months old now. He is taking after his big sister and waiting to crawl until he's good and ready. I guess he's such a content little guy that sitting around is good enough for him right now. At least I'm not having to chase him around and babyproof everything yet!

Here he is!

Mommy's sweet boy

"See my new teeth?"
Audrey made this exact same face (with the wrinkled up nose) when she was little!

I love my Cheerios!

I think he was trying to look around the camera to see me!

Happy Halloween!

Last night was an exciting one! Here are Audrey and Carter dressed up for Halloween. Carter didn't last too long but Audrey came home with over 70 pieces of candy! EEK! We also have lots of leftover candy, so it looks like Chad will be feeding his co-workers candy for the next 6 months. That or I will be putting on an extra 30 pounds! Double EEK!


Here's a photo of the kids with their menagerie of neighborhood friends. They all went trick or treating together. We have SUCH a great neighborhood full of friends for Audrey & Carter to play with, not to mention great people for Chad and me to socialize with. We LOVE it here and feel so blessed that God led us to such a great place to live.

Good Books

I love reading books. A number of years ago I was in a book club - well, maybe I should call it a book duo since it was just my friend Jen and I, but I digress - and I invariably found myself especially drawn to novels that were historical and took place in foreign lands and cultures.

Anyhow, lately I've been reading a rash of books that seem to take place in Islamic culture. Perhaps my interest is due to all the news out there related to this topic. But it has been fascinating and informative to learn more about how people, particularly women, live in other parts of the world. Wow, are we "western" women fortunate. We don't even know how absolutely fortunate and blessed we are to live in a free and relatively "equal" society. For example, in the US, I can get a free basic education. There are resources for me to attend college. I can choose my marriage partner (and expect them to be a partner, not my master). If that spouse is abusive, I can call the police and expect some protection. I can leave an abusive situation if I choose to, without permission from anyone else. I can work to support myself and my family. I can think for myself. I can drive a car. I can leave my house on my own, without a husband or male family member to escort me. I have equal protection under law. My testimony in court has the same weight as that of a man. . . I could go on and on.

So, if you are a reader and, like me, enjoy other cultures, here are the books I've read and enjoyed lately.

Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat
This is a true story of a young woman who was imprisoned in Iran (in the era of the Ayatollah Khomeini) for questioning the government. She escaped the firing squad at the final moment and later was forced into marriage by one of her captors. This was my favorite book of the three listed.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Again, a true story written by an African woman who escaped a forced marriage and the "imprisonment" of Islam. It describes her life journey from childhood up through the point of her becoming a Dutch parliament member and surviving numerous serious death threats by Muslims for her stand on their treatment of women.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (also wrote The Kite Runner, another great book)
A fictional book about Afghanistan before, during, and after the Taliban. It chronicles the life of two women living through this period of time. This book draws you in. I read it in about 4 days (which is probably a record for me since having kids!)

Enjoy the books and again, thank the Lord for the blessing of being a free woman in this world!