Heading Out. .

The Smith family will be heading out for some R&R with family and friends. I'm not counting on internet, but maybe we'll be suprised. . see you next week!

Star

My Maddie Girl is Growing Up!

I thought I'd just share a few observations about my sweet Madison that I made yesterday. .

*She slept until 9:00 o'clock. This is a completely new development this summer. Never in her life has she really slept past 7:30 or so on her own.

*Mid-morning, she decided to clean out my box of nail supplies--ON HER OWN!! She sorted the polishes, tools, and nail files into 3 different baggies and arranged them just so in the plastic box. AND she was very pleased with herself! (She IS my daughter, after all :) ).

*After we ran our errands, I dropped her off at her piano teacher's house. It's just still kind of strange to me that I can just drop her off like that. . .

*Later in the afternoon, when I typically ask her to work in her "Summer 2nd Grade Book", she worked and worked--doing way more that what is required--and seeming to enjoy it! She was reading so well, answering comprehension questions, doing double digit addition, and more! AMAZING!! She also read her new library books for about 20 minutes--really reading!

*In the evening, she invited her friend who lives behind us to come spend the night. She came over, and they just had a ball. They painted their fingernails (on a big towel in her closet so that Jackson wouldn't bother them!), watched a movie in her bed on our little portable DVD player (thank you, Maw Maw), and went on to sleep at 11:00 without any problems!

She is really growing into a beautiful, responsible, caring young lady. Two people complimented her yesterday. One was the owner of the cleaners that we use. He said that she was so happy and well-behaved. The other was our neighbor. When she dropped her daughter off last night, she said that Madison is a true friend who is always so kind. I feel the same way about her daughter, too! We are thankful for their friendship.

I'm so grateful for God's hand on her life. I'm still praying that I will know for sure that SHE knows for sure that she is in God's family. But for now, she has a simple faith that God loves her.. and He does. . even more than I love her. . .Thank you, Jesus, for my Maddie girl. May she always be secure in Your love for her.

Tag Day

OK, I've been tagged TWICE at once, and this is exciting because it's my first time to be tagged at all! One is reflective and spiritual, one is just for fun. So, here goes. . .



SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

1. I have flat feet. I had to wear inserts in my shoes until I was a grown-up and wanted to wear cuter shoes all the time! :)


2. I love to cook (most of the time). I'm constantly reading recipes. When I get a new magazine, I usually go the FOOD section first.



3. I'm not scared of bugs or snakes or spiders or frogs.



4. When I was about 22 I wanted a belly button ring, but my husband talked me out of it and bought me a magnet one instead that I never wore--not once. I have NOT wanted one since. It was a silly in-the-moment idea that I am SO glad I didn't go through with.



5. I love to shop at Target. If I could only have one store to do all my shopping out of, that would be it.



6. I love to read. I always have a book going. I particularly like historical fiction for relaxing with. . I'm currently RE-reading the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. It's set in Rome and VERY exciting. I also love reading to my children. Madison and I are flying through the chapter books now, too.



7. I can play the piano. I took lessons from 1st or 2nd grade all the way through a senior in high school. I'd like to start taking lessons again one day

And on a COMPLETELY different note. . .

5 THINGS I DIG ABOUT JESUS

1. He is faithful. He's been so faithful to me. He's always there. I never have to wonder if He'll love me, forgive me, guide me, provide for me. . .I also love how He is faithful to the ones I love. He'll always take care of them, too. Whenever I rehearse His past faithfulness, my faith for today increases.

2. He is GOOD. 100% good. He wants what is best for me. He is utterly incapable of making a mistake. He sees the end from the beginning.

3. He give me wisdom. I love His promise to give wisdom when we ask! I need so much!

4. He teaches ME from His Word. I love studying and learning His Word. I praise Him for this desire to sit with the Word and that He would meet me there is amazing.

5. He wakes me up in the morning. I never thought I would want to get up, but He wakes me up early and "the same power that rose Christ Jesus from the dead" works in me. . and I get up! Incredible! Such a gift.

Picture Day!

Jackson swimming at Papa Joe and MaMaMa's house in Friendswood

Madison floating and having fun. .

We're at the circus!

Maddie and me. .

The white tigers doing their tricks. .

The dancing elephants.. .

SEVEN motorcycle guys in ONE giant cage. .

Madison, Jackson, and Hope with their cousins, Morgan and Luke (We went to Maw Maw's on Sunday afternoon)

The brothers (Will and Stephen) holding the babies (Luke and Hope)

Morgan holding Hope

On the slip-and-slide at Splash Day (look at that handsome boy!)

Sweet baby Hope at Splash Day

Hope again. .

About to go down the water slide


On the water slide. .again. .

That's the last few days in pictures. . Thank you, God, for our family!

Good Times

I'm so glad it's summer! We are just soaking up all the good times with friends and family near and far. . . and because school doesn't start until Aug. 27th, we're only half-way through!

So. . .we DID go to the circus yesterday. I have lots of pictures, but I can't figure out how to get them off the camera and onto the computer here at my parents' house, so I'll post them another day. Anyway, the circus was oodles of excitement. It wasn't like I remember it, but I had only been one other time when I was about 7--and that was just awhile back, ya know! THAT story goes down in Zmarzly history because our car "blew up" while we were in the circus (according to legend). As we were looking for a place to park, that dark, rainy night so very long ago, our car (which was really my grandparents' car that we were driving with some friends) was smoking and over-heating. We parked and went into the circus. When we came out, the car was GONE. All that was left was my mom's Big Gulp cup, sitting all alone on the asphalt. Turns out, the car had "blown up", the wrecker had been called along with my dad (who obviously wasn't with us), and the car had been towed away. Remember this was WAY B.C.--before cell-phones! Okay, so yesterday, no cars blew up as far as I know, but we (my mom, my sister, M, J, and I) did have a marvelous time. Madison really liked the elephants and trapeze artists, and Jackson really liked the motorcycles that do this amazing trick. SEVEN of them were riding simultaneously in a spherical cage. CRAZY! She got an elephant, he got a motorcycle, they each got a snow-cone in a special cup, and I got $65 poorer on souvenirs!!!! YIKES!! Thank you, Mama, for supporting our circus endeavors.

Today we gallivanted about town in the style of the olden days when people went "visiting" on Sunday afternoons. We went from the Matte's (see below), to Maw-Maw's house (where we got to see Uncle Will and cousins Morgan and Luke--PRECIOUS!!), and to Lee-La's house (Stephen's great-grandmother--where we also got to visit with Aunt Mary Ann). So. . . it was a delightful day of good ole visiting.

Last bit of news from the home-front: Stephen came home early from his trip. Sadly, Greg's grandad is not doing well, and he's needed in LA, so they come home this morning (instead of Wed.). We are super happy to have him home already, but sad to hear the Matte's sad news. It worked out B-eautifully to pick the guys up from the airport, take Greg home, hug Kelly and Grayson, and head to Katy. So, there. . that's our weekend.

On a final note, God has been teaching me some really sweet things lately, and I feel compelled to share. . maybe tomorrow :). It's so precious when you know you're His daughter and He is yours. I am blessed. You are blessed, too, friend!

This is the great adventure. . .or at least it's some kind of adventure

We (3 kids, the dog, and I) are in Houston as of 5:45 tonight. Yes, I think I set a record. We left our house in Irving at exactly 1:23 pm and made it to Friendswood at 5:45. No stops. Seriously. We made NO stops. J-man slept, and then watched one movie. M watched one movie, and then read some books. Baby girl literally made not one peep. She fell asleep before we were on the freeway and woke up in Friendswood. I have the hands-down world's greatest baby! Gretel (the dog) slept the whole way, too, by the way. We made it in time to eat spaghetti and swim in the (blow-up) pool. . good times.

Also, I got my hair done today. What is it about going to get your hair fixed? It's always shinier, smoother, and in my case--a different color. What is it with me and changing my hair color lately? Really. What AM I trying to prove? That yes, you can have 3 children and still want to have great hair? That even though I do pony tales 4 days a week, I can still get fixed up when I want to? First it was the fire-engine red and vibrant blond (read: yellow) highlights. I told Glenn that I wanted dramatic, and I got it, all right. Red + yellow = orange. Well, it's dark brown now. Madison called it black. She also said she doesn't like it. I told her to wait 2-3 weeks or at least until after I shampoo it a couple of times. . it'll lighten up a bit. I told him I wanted to go close to my natural color, that I wanted a dark, rich brown. Well, it IS dark brown. Oh well. At least it's shiny and smooth.

Stephen's adventures continue, as well. He is now in Boston. He and Greg went to Harvard Square to eat tonight, and tomorrow they do the tourist thing. Tomorrow night, they are excited about going to a Red Sox game.

For us, tomorrow holds the promise of. . . (drum roll, please) the circus!!! Fun!

Holding On and Letting Go

It's been coming at me all day that mothering is about holding on and letting go. One of the first things Jackson said to me this morning was the precious thing that my friends who are mothers-of-boys told me he would most likely say at some point... "Mommy, I love you. I wish I could marry you. If I was a dad, I'd marry you." Oh-my-goodness!!! If that doesn't melt your heart! And my little baby Hope--I just want to hold onto her being little--but do I really? Yes! And no. And my Maddie girl, I dropped her off at the church at 9:00 am and didn't pick her up until 5:00 pm, and she was at a water park all day long without me! I just can't believe that she's old enough to do that! But I'm so proud of her. . she's responsible and trust-worthy and ready to. . be let go a little bit. . just a little bit. Tonight we snuggled in bed and read "James and the Giant Peach" (we're excited about finishing the story tomorrow), and I wanted to just hold on. In my mind I picture this funnel, gradually widening that corresponds to my children's growth.. . their worlds gradually expand along with thier ability and readiness to go out into the world. Does it have to be an either/or kind of job, this thing called being a mother? Do we hold on OR let go? I don't think so. . at least in my 7 years as a mom, I think I've learned that my little ones need me to hold on AND to let go. . at the right time. . .not too soon and not too late. Thank you, Jesus, for 3 precious little ones to hold onto. Give me your wisdom to gently let go bit by bit. . while holding on.