Deep thoughts....

Today, I watched the inauguration.  I found it simply overwhelming.  I have always been a bit of a fence sitter when it comes to politics, too annoyed and disturbed by all the chaos to let myself in.

Yet, a pride swelled in my heart as our Nation, once again followed the traditions of their forefathers and were called to remember the principles that our nation was founded upon.  Soon, as always, we brace ourselves for more battering and rhetoric, but today...I was just grateful to be an American.  I found myself wanting to be a ripple in the lake that makes this country so beautiful.  

And as I change diapers and quiz spelling words with each child I am throwing a ripple out there to a world that is sure to be tried...but rooted in the simplicity of motherhood, family and God.

I am proud to be an American.

River meets Alexander graham Bell

This week River and I have painstakingly prepared a report for his wax museum report/presentation on Alexander Grahm Bell.  I found it amusing that such a man as Bell hated school too!  I found myself wondering if his mother paved his path to greatness with the stones of her worry, or if she saw the greatness in him all along and simply just loved what was.

I wonder if she gave him daily speeches about "This moment, this very moment...is the rest of your life blah blah blah?  Or perhaps did she just get that he would grow into his destiny one stone at a time between the morters of his mistakes and success alike?  Did she see the telephone in him on all of those days she could barely get him to study?

Or how about Einstien...I can't even spell his name...but I think about his mother a lot too.  He was a bit much for the classroom as well, so his dear mother pulled him out and schooled him herself.  Did she too, have days of wonder and worry alike.

It seems to me that life comes in bundles of burden and blessing,  paralleling a path that God has designed for us.  And in this new phase of parenting, I am trying to balance my role as a mother with wisdom enough to know when to push and know when to let go and let God.

For now I simply want to celebrate him, my little toddler that made robots out of p.v.c pipes and knew the size of every engine in every car ever made by the time he was four.  I want to celebrate his humanity  and kindness that he shows to everyone, his thoughtful reflections and boisterous opinions all in a package specially delivered to me and Garrett!  We love you River...And yes...you have to study your spelling tomorrow:)

Let the bluebirds come

In a series of beautiful and tender mercies, way to complex to share, the blue bird has become our family motto.  

It is a simple expression that miracles happen if we wait upon the Lord and trust in his timing.  Which, we have also learned the hard way, does happen.  My late mentor Jerry Edwards once explained in a simple story just how.

There was once a women in the hospital who absent mindedly set her diamond ring on her feeding tray.  And after a clumsy moment during the night, she bumped it in the garbage can.  She was to weak to bend down and get it, and assumed she could have the nurse dig it out in the morning.  But sometime after an unexpected sleep, the garbage can had been emptied and her precious wedding ring gone. 

 The Janitor was called and faithfully committed to her that he would find it.  Some, (like myself) would call this an unrealistic commitment.  Even if every last garbage dumpster was searched, how could it possibly be found?  After a day of anxious waiting, the lady took pity on the devoted janitor and told him to go home, that the ring was simply not to be found.  But he would not give up.  And finally in the very last dumpster rolling amidst the food scraps and smoltering stench, was the diamond ring.  When he presented the ring to the speechless woman.  He simply said, "Mam, miracles happen, but there usually in the last garbage can." 

And that pretty much sums up our year.  

My friend Kelly's new year's goal was for me to have a blog.  I have always been a bit skeptical of blogging.  Until I recognized it as a way to celebrate the ones I love and express my gratitude for the role they play in my family's life. And I must confess, I am exited to share our growth in good times and bad with those we love.

So here is to you Kelly...Check this one off your list:)

The smith ohana

sending our love your way