Memorial Day Weekend

Last weekend we had the blessing of being able to fly to Birmingham, Alabama for Sam’s cousin’s wedding.  A lot of our extended family members were there which made it so good just to catch up with and see everyone.  There were many family members there that we do not see when we visit Omaha, so it was well worth the trip made. 

The wedding itself was absolutely beautiful and the setting was atop a bluff overlooking beautiful trees and rolling hills.  Here are some pictures to show you what we mean:

The ceremony took place here

Smith siblings present: Ted & Alicia, Sam & Tawnya, Mark & Katie

Sam’s mom Bonnie made the cake - it was beautiful and delicious as usual!

The area where the food was served - a very beautiful room

Here’s a sampling of the food that was served.  Shrimp & grits was the popular item by most southerners there (the food in the glass dish), but I think it might be an acquired taste:).  Also served was a fabulous creamy spinach dip, some yummy imported cheeses, fruit, and a deep-fried hush puppie (though so much better than the Long John Silver’s kind).

The day after the wedding much of the family headed to Sam’s aunt & uncle’s lake house where many took in some boating and water-skiing. You’d think Sam was a pro from this picture.

A unexpected blessing!  We missed our connecting flight in Dallas on the way home due to our flight out of Birmingham being delayed, and we got the privilege of staying with our good friends Jud & Kim overnight!  It was such a thrill to be able to see them, meet their newborn boy, and catch up in person!  God certainly orchestrated this little “gift” of a visit. 

House News

This is just a quick update since we haven’t posted in two weeks.  Sorry for our negligence.  Some of you are wondering about our house situation.  The official word is that Tawnya and I are buying a house here in Westboro.  This is all happening very quickly…the closing is next week already.  Please pray for all of the details to work out smoothly.

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, and a great weekend it was.  We’ll write more and post pictures in just a couple days.  Stay tuned.

Our Small Town

Can I just say that I love the fact that I came home today to find that our street had been lined with the American flag?  Each telephone post has a beautiful, in-tact, non-faded flag waving from the top.  Seriously, I know our country isn’t perfect and that God isn’t always going to “bless us” just because we ask Him to, but I’m certainly grateful to live here and always will be. 

However, can I also say that I’m not too excited to see mr. donkey-wagon decor make his summer appearance?  This little fellow was keeping guard over our apartment building last summer just after we moved here, (bless our landlords attempts to make this place feel “homey”), and we thought maybe he’d been stolen when we didn’t see him around anymore.  Nope.  Here he is.

Baby’s Big Day

This past week has been a thrill for us as we watch our little one develop.  Early in the week I was able to feel the baby’s movements with my hand for the first time, and a couple of days later we could just barely see Tawnya’s belly move with each tap.  As we have been reading about all of the many developments that are occurring in her womb, we are absolutely amazed and in awe of God’s greatness.  It is indeed the fool who says there is no God.

Today we had our big ultrasound to check up on the baby’s health, and we were hoping to discover the gender as well.  We are thrilled to report that the baby seems to be very healthy, and we can definitely call him a BOY!  Here are the pictures from his big photo shoot.

The little foot

Baby fingers…

Sucking his fingers…

Legs kickin’

Face profile

Flexing for mommy and daddy…even the tech was impressed with his pipes!

And it is definitely a Boy!

The Mother of All Garage Sales

Camp’s annual Garage Sale was today, which was a part of the also annual, Work Weekend.  There were lots and lots of wonderful people who came to volunteer for the weekend to help with projects that otherwise would not happen before the summer hits!  Sam led a crew that re-roofed the warming hut on the ski hill, and also a crew that installed new garage doors into one of camp’s buildings.  I don’t have pictures of those, so maybe we’ll be able to snag some and post them later. 

Back to the Garage Sale. Items are donated to camp all throughout the year.  Many of these items camp can use, and many of them camp cannot.  So the donaters give in good faith that we will either use them directly or benefit from their sale.  Thus the need for an annual garage sale. This was the biggest, most involved, and most “like shopping the day after Thanksgiving” garage sale I have ever experienced!  Here’s some pictures to back up my words.

Sure there was junk too…but I’m telling you…many treasures were found in these tables.  I got a sweet bedding set for $10!  Hardly used!  For $10!  Thus…the “shopping the day after Thanksgiving” feeling.

...don’t you wish you were there…

...next year you just might have to come…

..But you might end up having to arm wrestle someone over a doubly loved treasure…notice the people staking out their items?.....this was at 6:30am…one hour before the sale actually began. 

These men were too cute and I just had to take a picture of them.  They obliged…of course they did…they were both juiced about their sail boat they had set claims on.